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A Social Composition View of Team Creativity: The Role of Member Nationality-Heterogeneous Ties Outside of the Team

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  • Jill E. Perry-Smith

    (Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322)

  • Christina E. Shalley

    (Georgia Institute of Technology, Scheller Business College, Atlanta, Georgia 30308)

Abstract

We sought to understand team member informal social network ties outside of the team as a way to achieve cognitive variation within the team, thereby facilitating creativity. Specifically, we take a configural perspective, which emphasizes individual team members and the heterogeneity and strength of their outside ties. We theorize that these characteristics of outside ties are important because they amend members’ schemas and the team’s cognitive architecture. Results of a study of 82 long-term MBA project teams suggest that both outside ties with nationality-heterogeneous individuals and weak outside ties independently facilitate team creativity. In addition, nationality-heterogeneous outside ties that are weak rather than strong are associated with higher team creative performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jill E. Perry-Smith & Christina E. Shalley, 2014. "A Social Composition View of Team Creativity: The Role of Member Nationality-Heterogeneous Ties Outside of the Team," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(5), pages 1434-1452, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:25:y:2014:i:5:p:1434-1452
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2014.0912
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