Communication accommodation within global virtual team: The influence of cultural intelligence and the impact on interpersonal process effectiveness

The study builds on existing literature on global virtual team (GVT) and focuses on how individual members can achieve higher levels of interpersonal process effectiveness. Anchoring on the theory of intelligence, this study establishes and examines cultural intelligence (CQ) and how it can relate and influence a GVT member's interpersonal process effectiveness. Furthermore, this study extends the literature by drawing from communication accommodation theory in examining how communication accommodation plays an important role in the effective functioning of a GVT member. To test these assertions, data were collected from members of GVTs and their colleagues (n = 262 paired data) in a multinational information technology offshoring firm. Data were analyzed and the results revealed that a GVT member's CQ relates positively and significantly to effectiveness on both interpersonal processes of synergy and direction. Furthermore, results showed that communication accommodation of a GVT member is influenced by CQ which consequently impacts both effectiveness on interpersonal processes of synergy and direction. These results contribute to the growing literature on GVT and offer new practical insights on how to improve overall efficiency and work performance within GVT.     

Peer performance evaluations in global virtual teams: A longitudinal analysis of surface- and deep-level attributes

Most research on peer performance evaluations (PPEs) has been conducted using co-located teams, assuming that PPEs are static, and focusing on the effects of PPEs, while ignoring how attributes of the evaluated individual influence PPEs, and if PPEs may vary over time. The present study advances this line of research by applying theory on impression formation and Tuckman's team stages model to explore the varying relevance of surface-level and deep-level individual attributes on PPEs across the team's life, and specifically in the context of global virtual teams (GVTs). We used longitudinal data across ten weeks of 831 individuals from 34 countries working in 239 different GVTs. We found that surface-level attributes, such as age and home country reputation, affect PPEs in the early stages of the team project, while the deep-level attributes, such as cognitive ability and English language proficiency, influence PPEs in the late phase of a GVT's life. We also found that cultural intelligence impacts PPEs relatively early on, and emotional intelligence is only relevant for PPEs when the GVT hits critical turning points, while gender influences PPEs throughout the project. We discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of our findings and provide directions for future research on PPEs in GVTs.     

The influence of cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence on conflict occurrence and performance in global virtual teams

The role of different types of intelligence in the occurrence of conflict in global virtual teams (GVTs) has largely been overlooked in the literature. As suggested by the theory of multiple intelligences, this study explores how cultural intelligence (CQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) influence the occurrence of interpersonal, task and process conflicts in GVTs. Furthermore, by drawing on the contingency theory of task conflict and performance in groups and organisational teams, we examine the impact of these different types of conflict on the performance of GVTs. Utilising multilevel analysis, we tested the research model using a sample of 810 graduate and undergraduate business students from 38 different countries who worked in 232 GVTs. The results show that the CQ and EQ of the team members reduce the occurrence of the three different intragroup conflicts in GVTs. We also demonstrate that process conflict negatively affects GVT performance. We discuss the implications for research and practice.     

Diverse effects of diversity: Disaggregating effects of diversity in global virtual teams

Global Virtual Team (GVT) member diversity provides many advantages but also poses many challenges. Diversity comes in different forms that each has different effects on GVT dynamics and performance. Past research typically explored the effect of only one type of diversity at a time. Using multi-source, multi-wave data from 5728 individuals working in 804 consulting project GVTs, the present study is unique in that it explores and compares the effects of different forms of team member diversity on different aspects of GVT effectiveness in a single sample. It proposes a refined theoretical model that differentiates between the effects of personal versus contextual diversity and articulates how these distinct forms of diversity affect different aspects of GVT effectiveness (i.e., task outcomes versus psychological outcomes). The results reveal that (1) team member diversity in general has a substantial effect on GVT effectiveness; (2) contextual diversity has a positive effect on task outcomes; and (3) personal diversity has a negative effect on psychological outcomes. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.     

Managing Nationality Diversity: The Interactive Effect of Leaders’ Cultural Intelligence and Task Interdependence

In light of the workforce's increasing nationality diversity, our study explores the antecedents for the successful management of nationality diversity as visualized in a favourable diversity climate and enhanced team performance. We propose a double‐contingency model in which we argue that the effects of nationality diversity will be dependent upon task interdependence and leaders’ cultural intelligence. We propose that nationality diversity will be more consequential in more interdependent teams, in which team interactions and processes are more salient. Moreover, team leaders with higher cultural intelligence will possess the skills to foster adequate team processes and thereby enhance diversity climate and performance of nationally diverse, more interdependent teams. We collected multi‐source data from 63 work teams (N = 410) and their supervisors at a German facility management company. Moderated regression analyses supported the hypothesized three‐way interaction between nationality diversity, task interdependence and leaders’ cultural intelligence. Additional simple slope analysis showed that nationality diversity is positively related to diversity climate and performance only when both team leaders’ cultural intelligence and task interdependence are high. Our study not only provides recommendations for successful nationality diversity management but also yields theoretical implications for diversity and cultural intelligence research.     

An Investigation of Localization as an Element of Cognitive Fit in Accounting Model Representations

Cognitive fit, a correspondence between task and data representation format, has been demonstrated to lead to superior task performance by individual users and has been posited as an explanation for performance differences among users of various problem representations such as tables, graphs, maps, and schematic faces. The current study extends cognitive fit to accounting models and integrates cognitive fit theory with the concept of localization to provide additional evidence for how cognitive fit works. Two accounting model representations are compared in this study, the traditional DCA (Debit‐Credit‐Account) accounting model and the REA (Resources‐Events‐Agents) accounting model. Results indicate that the localization of relevant objects or linkages is important in establishing cognitive fit.     

Different ways lead to ambidexterity: Configurations for team innovation across China,India, and Singapore

In this paper, we transfer the ambidexterity theory of leadership for innovation to a cross-cultural context. We develop a configurational model to explore how combinations of opening leadership, closing leadership, and team initiative differently affect team innovation performance in different cultures. Applying an Asia-centric perspective, our study analyzes cross-cultural heterogeneity of team innovation processes across China, India, and Singapore. Our fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) illuminates cultural differences and the configurational nature of how leadership and team behaviors work together in promoting team innovation performance. We found that configurations for team innovation performance differ across countries, such that an innovation-yielding configuration in one country may be ineffective in another country. Moreover, our findings suggest that alternative, equifinal configurations of leadership and team initiative, rather than just one optimal pathway, are associated with high team innovation performance; and high-performance configurations and low-performance configurations are asymmetric and therefore imply non-linearity of the relationships. The findings provide implications for managers in different cultural contexts as they help identify culture-specific action repertoires to manage innovation processes and promote innovation performance.     

Adjustment and work outcomes of self-initiated expatriates in the United Arab Emirates: Development and testing of a model

Drawing upon anxiety/uncertainty management (AUM) theory and organization support theory (OST), we developed and tested a model on how globally mobile talent – in this instance, self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) - stay and perform well in the organization. We collected data from 276 superior-subordinate dyads, which were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Our results suggest that role clarity mediates the influence of perceived organizational support and work adjustment. Furthermore, we found that work adjustment mediates the influence of role clarity on task performance and organizational citizenship behavior. We draw out the implications for advancing theory and practice in expatriate management.     

Cultural Intelligence and Institutional Success: The Mediating Role of Relationship Quality

As managerial rationality is always bounded, managers utilise their cognitive abilities and social relations to manage their operational environmental uncertainties. We posit that relationship quality (RQ) mediates the association between cultural intelligence (CQ) and success in managing challenges arising out of differences in the institutional environments i.e. institutional success. Our CQ measure comprises cognitive, metacognitive, motivational and behavioural CQs. We included the interactive effects of two inter-related mental capabilities, namely cognitive and metacognitive CQs, and motivational and behavioural CQs while examining the mediating role of RQ between CQ and institutional success. Based on data from 186 Indian senior managers doing business with New Zealand, we find mixed support for our hypotheses. We find indirect-only mediation effects for interactive effects of cognitive and metacognitive CQs, and complementary mediation effects for motivational CQ. Contrary to expectations, we find negative direct-only non-mediation effects of behavioural CQ.     

Understanding innovation performance and its antecedents: A socio-cognitive model

Little attention in the previous literature has been paid to understanding employees’ factors that drive customer development knowledge and performance from the perspective of social psychology. Drawing on social cognitive theory, this study validates a research model that examines the above issue. In the setting of new product development across high-tech firms in Taiwan, this study postulates that innovation self-efficacy, role conflict, and role ambiguity influence innovation performance directly and indirectly via the mediation of customer knowledge development and innovation outcome expectation. This study contributes to the social science literature by applying social cognitive theory to the rarely explored area of innovation performance and by presenting an operationalization of role stressors (i.e., role ambiguity and role conflict) in the area. Lastly, managerial implications and limitations from the empirical findings are provided.     

Expansion-oriented job crafting and employee performance: A self-empowerment perspective

Taking a self-empowerment perspective, we investigated the mediating impact of psychological empowerment on the relationship between expansion-oriented job crafting behaviors (seeking resources and seeking challenges) and job performance. We also examined the moderating role of perceived overqualification on the proposed mediation model. Data were collected from 519 employees and their direct supervisors who work in 69 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey. As the data had a nested structure, we used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to analyze the multi-level data. The results show that psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between expansion-oriented job crafting behaviors and job performance. The analyses also provide support for the moderating impact of perceived overqualification. The conditional indirect effect of seeking challenges on job performance is stronger for those employees who feel overqualified for their jobs.     

Interruptions to workflow: Their relationship with irritation and satisfaction with performance,and the mediating roles of time pressure and mental demands

Understanding the mechanisms of workflow interruptions is crucial for reducing employee strain and maintaining performance. This study investigates how interruptions affect perceptions of performance and irritation by employing a within-person approach. Such interruptions refer to intruding secondary tasks, such as requests for assistance, which occur within the primary task. Based on empirical evidence and action theory, it is proposed that the occurrence of interruptions is negatively related to satisfaction with one's own performance and positively related to forgetting of intentions and the experience of irritation. Mental demands and time pressure are proposed as mediators. Data were gathered from 133 nurses in German hospitals by means of a five-day diary study (four measurements taken daily; three during a morning work shift and one after work, in the evening). Multilevel analyses showed that workflow interruptions had detrimental effects on satisfaction with one's own performance, the forgetting of intentions, and irritation. The mediation effects of mental demands and time pressure were supported for irritation and (partially) supported for satisfaction with performance. They were not supported for the forgetting of intentions. These findings demonstrate the importance of reducing the time and mental demands associated with interruptions.     

Cultural diversity: an exercise in elaboration

This paper explores how I used personal construct theory (PCT) to underpin an intervention I designed and delivered to improve organizational effectiveness. The aim was to help improve the poor relationship between one of the teams in the organization I work for and representatives of their American customer which was adversely affected by cultural misunderstanding. I used a variety of tools and techniques to help individuals explore their understanding of each other's beliefs, values and language and its impact on the relationship. Delegates embarked on a journey that took them from the generic macro level of cultural stereotypes and perceptions to the micro-level of what these actually meant in their individual relationships. PCT provides a strong, robust framework for understanding one another's world from within. Because it is based on a strong theoretical base it provides guidelines within which the practitioner can, effectively and efficiently, work.     

Judgmental Forecasting: Cognitive Reflection and Decision Speed

This research analyzes how individual differences affect performance in judgmental time‐series forecasting. Decision makers with the ability to balance intuitive judgment with cognitive deliberation, as measured by the cognitive reflection test, tend to have lower forecast errors. This relationship holds when controlling for intelligence. Furthermore, forecast errors increase for very fast or very slow decisions. We provide evidence that forecast performance can be improved by manipulating decision speed.     

Structural empowerment,psychological empowerment,and work engagement: A cross-country study

In this cross-country study we drew on job demands-resources theory to investigate whether psychological empowerment mediates the positive association between structural empowerment and work engagement and, consequently, task performance and intention to quit. A total of 1033 employees working in the service sector in Spain (N = 515) and the United Kingdom (N = 518) participated in the study. Multi-group structural equation modeling analyses revealed that psychological empowerment partially mediated the positive relationship between structural empowerment and work engagement, and that work engagement associated positively with task performance and negatively with intention to quit. Invariance analyses suggested that the positive link between psychological empowerment and work engagement was stronger for employees working in the UK than in Spain, providing support for partial structural invariance of the hypothesized model. These findings suggest that psychological empowerment is an underlying mechanism that may explain why structural empowerment relates positively to work engagement with implications for theory (i.e., extend the nomological network of the investigated constructs) and management practice (e.g., emphasize the role of structural empowerment for work design).     

员工敬业度、工作绩效与工作满意度的关系研究

本文基于角色理论,探索员工敬业度、工作绩效与工作满意度之间的关系,以及工作绩效在员工敬业度与工作满意度之间的中介作用。利用在职学生的137份调查数据进行统计分析,结果显示,中国文化背景下,工作绩效也包括任务绩效和关系绩效两个维度;员工敬业度、工作绩效和工作满意度之间存在显著正相关;工作绩效在员工敬业度与工作满意度之间起完全的中介作用。     

Effects of charismatic leadership and rewards on individual performance

We report two replication attempts for the positive main effects of charismatic leadership and performance-based rewards on individual performance from a field experiment in a charitable context (Antonakis, d'Adda, Weber, and Zehnder, 2015). Using video based treatments - instead of the live treatments in the original study - we only replicate the effect of performance-based rewards in a sample of 118 participants; we do not find an effect of charisma on performance. In a second study, we address the reasons that could explain the unsuccessful replication of the charisma effect by: (a) using a larger sample (n = 274) and (b) ensuring the experimental task context to have ingroup - cultural and hence value - fit between the workers and the beneficiaries of a charity. In the second study we fully replicate the positive effects of charisma as well as performance-based rewards on individual performance. In extending the original work we tested and found no interaction between economic incentives and charisma. Furthermore, using the manipulations as experimentally randomized instrumental variables (ERIVs, see Sajons, 2020), we find that the effect of charisma on individual performance is channelled through the vision dimension of leadership.     

Cognitive Fit: A Theory-Based Analysis of the Graphs Versus Tables Literature*

A considerable amount of research has been conducted over a long period of time into the effects of graphical and tabular representations on decision-making performance. To date, however, the literature appears to have arrived at few conclusions with regard to the performance of the two representations. This paper addresses these issues by presenting a theory, based on information processing theory, to explain under what circumstances one representation outperforms the other. The fundamental aspects of the theory are: (1) although graphical and tabular representations may contain the same information, they present that information in fundamentally different ways; graphical representations emphasize spatial information, while tables emphasize symbolic information; (2) tasks can be divided into two types, spatial and symbolic, based on the type of information that facilitates their solution; (3) performance on a task will be enhanced when there is a cognitive fit (match) between the information emphasized in the representation type and that required by the task type; that is, when graphs support spatial tasks and when tables support symbolic tasks; (4) the processes or strategies problem solvers use are the crucial elements of cognitive fit since they provide the link between representation and task; the processes identified here are perceptual and analytical; (5) so long as there is a complete fit of representation, processes, and task type, each representation will lead to both quicker and more accurate problem solving. The theory is validated by its success in explaining the results of published studies that examine the performance of graphical and tabular representations in decision making.     

From genes to minds to cultures: Evolutionary approaches to leadership

Evolutionary perspectives are part of any comprehensive explanation of leadership and, more generally, hierarchy formation in groups. This editorial describes contributions to a special issue on the theme of “The evolution and biology of leadership: A new synthesis”, and we reach four main conclusions. First, leadership has been a powerful force in the biological and cultural evolution of human sociality. Humans have evolved a range of cognitive and behavioral mechanisms (adaptations) that facilitate leader-follower relations, including safeguards against overly dominant leaders. Second, how these adaptations interact with local ecological and cultural contexts produces cultural variation in leadership preferences, and in the structure of human organizations more broadly. Third, an evolutionary perspective creates consilience between the social and natural sciences, by integrating leadership theory from diverse fields such as biology, psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, economics, and political science. Fourth, evolutionary approaches – and specifically the collection of articles in this theme issue – produce and test novel hypotheses, such as regards (i) the critical role of leadership in cooperation, (ii) the importance of contextual factors in leader emergence and effectiveness, (iii) interactions between genetic and cultural influences on leadership, and (iv) obstacles and opportunities for women leaders.     

A model of injustice,abusive supervision,and negative affect

In this study we test a model of workplace interactional injustice, abusive supervision, and subordinate outcomes (work–family conflict and job performance) using affect to explain behavior. In a sample of 200 full-time workers from various industries, their supervisors, and workers' family members, for a total sample of 600 respondents, we position state negative affect as the explanatory mechanism for both how supervisors' perceptions of injustice are associated with subordinates' perceptions of abusive supervision, and also how abusive supervision, in turn, may be associated with subordinates' job performance and their family members' perceptions of work–family conflict. Organizational justice theory underpins our model.