Breaking Bad? The Effect of Faultline Strength and Distance on Relationship Conflict, and Performance in Teams. A Conditional Process Model.

Abstract

Demographic faultlines (i.e., potential subgroup splits based on demographic attributes) have been argued to have effects over and above those of diversity. Yet, faultlines, much like diversity, do not seem to have positive or negative effects on performance per se, but to be affected by contextual variables as well as intermediate outcomes, such as relationship conflict. Relationship conflicts, a major threat to teamwork, are particularly likely to arise between subgroups. Thus, with the objective to shed some light on why and how exactly faultlines impact group outcome, we investigate the effect of faultline strength and distance on performance through relationship conflict as well as the effect of faultline strength on performance via relationship conflict, contingent on the level of faultline distance. To test our hypotheses we used data gathered in a laboratory setting with 267 graduate students. Results provide strong support for the extension of the faultline model.

Citation

Pregernig, U. (2017), "Breaking Bad? The Effect of Faultline Strength and Distance on Relationship Conflict, and Performance in Teams. A Conditional Process Model.", Verbeke, A., Puck, J. and Tulder, R.v. (Ed.) Distance in International Business: Concept, Cost and Value (Progress in International Business Research, Vol. 12), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 379-402. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-886220170000012022