Team mental models, relationship conflict and effectiveness over time

Catarina Marques Santos, Ana Margarida Passos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the extent to which similar team mental models (TMMs) at the beginning of a team’s lifecycle influence the level of relationship conflict within the team, TMM-similarity at the middle of the team lifecycle, and in turn team effectiveness. Thus far, no research has analysed the mediating role of a dysfunctional team process between TMM-similarity and effectiveness.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was conducted in a strategy and management competition involving 414 individuals who comprised 92 teams (3-5 members). We collected data at four moments in time. The questionnaires were developed based on validated scales and adapted for the specific context.
Findings: Our results provide support for the mediating role of conflict between the similarity of team-TMMs at the beginning of team lifecycle and effectiveness. Our results also provide support for the mediating role of task-TMMs in the middle of team lifecycle between task-TMMs at the beginning of team lifecycle and effectiveness. Findings suggest that teams with more similar TMMs, experience less relationship conflict which in turn improves effectiveness.
Research limitations/implications: In this study TMM-accuracy was not analysed. Future research should analyse the role of TMM similarity and accuracy. Further, future research should explore the optimal level of TMM-similarity and when the similarity of TMM is disruptive to teams. Originality/Value: This paper sheds light on the role of conflict as a dysfunctional team process between TMM-similarity and effectiveness. Moreover, this paper shows that more research on TMM evolution is needed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)363 – 385
JournalTeam Performance Management
Volume19
Issue number7/8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

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