Probing the Group Faultline Concept: An Evaluation of Measures of Patterned Multi-dimensional Group Diversity

The article provides a conceptual and analytical discussion of the group faultline notion introduced to organizational research by Lau and Murnighan (1998). Group faultlines can be thought of as patterned multi-dimensional diversity, and recent attempts to measure faultline strength differ in the wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quality & quantity 2008-06, Vol.42 (3), p.339-368
Main Author: Trezzini, Bruno
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Concepts
Constellations
Females
Group Dynamics
History, theory and methodology
Interpersonal relationships. Groups. Leadership
Methodology of the Social Sciences
Organizational Research
Social psychology
Social Sciences
Sociology
Theoretical Problems
Theory
Validity
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Summary:The article provides a conceptual and analytical discussion of the group faultline notion introduced to organizational research by Lau and Murnighan (1998). Group faultlines can be thought of as patterned multi-dimensional diversity, and recent attempts to measure faultline strength differ in the way they specify and operationalize this patternedness. I evaluate the comparative validity of these competing measures by scrutinizing their analytical strengths and weaknesses and by applying them to a number of illustrative group constellations that represent different faultline strengths. I conclude that at the current early stage of group faultline research, and given the shortcomings of the available indices, scholars are well advised to use multiple measures of faultline strength in empirical studies so as to better gauge the validity and reliability of both their results and the indices applied. I also caution against excessive hopes with regard to the explanatory power of the faultline concept in empirical research.
ISSN:0033-5177
1573-7845
DOI:10.1007/s11135-006-9049-z