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Intergroup Competition as a Double-Edged Sword: How Sex Composition Regulates the Effects of Competition on Group Creativity

Author

Listed:
  • Markus Baer

    (Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130)

  • Abhijeet K. Vadera

    (Indian School of Business, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500032, India)

  • Roger T. A. J. Leenders

    (Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Greg R. Oldham

    (A. B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118)

Abstract

Building on social role theory, we extend a contingency perspective on intergroup competition proposing that having groups compete against one another is stimulating to the creativity of groups composed largely or exclusively of men but detrimental to the creativity of groups composed largely or exclusively of women. We tested this idea in two separate studies: a laboratory experiment (Study 1) and a field study (Study 2). Study 1 showed that competition had the expected positive effects on the creativity of groups composed mostly or exclusively of men and produced the predicted negative effects on the creativity of groups composed of women, even though the latter effects emerged at the high end of the competition spectrum and for sex-homogeneous groups only. Results of Study 1 also revealed that within-group collaboration mediated the joint effects of competition and sex composition on group creativity. Study 2 replicated the results of Study 1 in a field setting involving research and development teams. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Baer & Abhijeet K. Vadera & Roger T. A. J. Leenders & Greg R. Oldham, 2014. "Intergroup Competition as a Double-Edged Sword: How Sex Composition Regulates the Effects of Competition on Group Creativity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 892-908, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:25:y:2014:i:3:p:892-908
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2013.0878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Cobeña, Mar & Gallego, à ngeles & Casanueva, Cristóbal, 2019. "Diversity in airline alliance portfolio configuration," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 16-26.
    3. Xin Liu & Byron Y. Lee & Tae-Yeol Kim & Yaping Gong & Xiaoming Zheng, 2023. "Double-Edged Effects of Creative Personality on Moral Disengagement and Unethical Behaviors: Dual Motivational Mechanisms and a Situational Contingency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(2), pages 449-466, June.
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    5. Yuhyung Shin & Mihee Kim & Won-Moo Hur, 2019. "Interteam Cooperation and Competition and Boundary Activities: The Cross-Level Mediation of Team Goal Orientations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-24, July.
    6. Fu, Na & Flood, Patrick C. & Rousseau, Denise M. & Morris, Tim, 2021. "Resolving the individual helping and objective job performance dilemma: The moderating effect of team reflexivity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 236-243.

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