The Consequences of Educational Specialty and Nationality Faultlines for Project Teams

• Published in: Small group research Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 613 - 644
• Main Authors: Jiang, Yuan, Jackson, Susan E., Shaw, James B., Chung, Yunhyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2012; Sage Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Group dynamics; Identity; Information Dissemination; Information sharing; Projects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social interaction; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Specialization; Students; diversity; faultline; team; Human; Social behavior; Information communication; Social group; Social interaction; Work team; Social belonging; Performance; Social identity
• ISSN: 1046-4964; 1552-8278
• DOI: 10.1177/1046496412453943

This study examines the effects of educational specialty and nationality faultline strength on the team processes of task-relevant information sharing and social interactions and subsequent team performance using data from 308 individuals working in 50 student project teams. We found that educational specialty faultline strength negatively predicted task-relevant information sharing, and that nationality faultline strength negatively predicted off-task social interactions. Furthermore, task-relevant information sharing enhanced team performance and heightened identity salience. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.