IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/worbus/v59y2024i3s1090951624000191.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From heterogeneity to inequality: The impact of nationality diversity on leadership in multinational teams

Author

Listed:
  • Mohan, Gouri
  • Paunova, Minna
  • Lee, Yih-Teen

Abstract

This study distinguishes heterogeneity and inequality by exploring how nationality diversity influences leadership perceptions in multinational teams. Using two studies that assessed 105 (Study 1) and 40 (Study 2) teams comprising 4,120 and 2,180 dyads respectively, we find that nationality-based status influences leadership perceptions directly and indirectly through competence perceptions of higher-status peers. Nationality-based identity had no direct effect, but some evidence suggests an indirect effect on leadership that was mediated by warmth perceptions of culturally similar peers. These findings highlight nationality as a source of inequality beyond heterogeneity, elucidating the social perceptual paths that shape leadership in multinational contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohan, Gouri & Paunova, Minna & Lee, Yih-Teen, 2024. "From heterogeneity to inequality: The impact of nationality diversity on leadership in multinational teams," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(3).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:59:y:2024:i:3:s1090951624000191
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2024.101535
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090951624000191
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jwb.2024.101535?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Günter K Stahl & Martha L Maznevski, 2021. "Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A retrospective of research on multicultural work groups and an agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 4-22, February.
    2. D. Scott DeRue & Jennifer D. Nahrgang & Susan J. Ashford, 2015. "Interpersonal Perceptions and the Emergence of Leadership Structures in Groups: A Network Perspective," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 1192-1209, August.
    3. Yue Maggie Zhou, 2015. "Supervising Across Borders: The Case of Multinational Hierarchies," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(1), pages 277-292, February.
    4. Catherine Durnell Cramton & Pamela J. Hinds, 2014. "An Embedded Model of Cultural Adaptation in Global Teams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(4), pages 1056-1081, August.
    5. Lazarova, Mila & Caligiuri, Paula & Collings, David G. & De Cieri, Helen, 2023. "Global work in a rapidly changing world: Implications for MNEs and individuals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(1).
    6. Gupta, Vipin & Hanges, Paul J. & Dorfman, Peter, 2002. "Cultural clusters: methodology and findings," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 11-15, April.
    7. Stahl, Günter K. & Mäkelä, Kristiina & Zander, Lena & Maznevski, Martha L., 2010. "A look at the bright side of multicultural team diversity," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 439-447, December.
    8. Pamela J Hinds & Tsedal B Neeley & Catherine Durnell Cramton, 2014. "Language as a lightning rod: Power contests, emotion regulation, and subgroup dynamics in global teams," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(5), pages 536-561, June.
    9. Earley, P. Christopher, 1999. "Playing Follow the Leader: Status-Determining Traits in Relation to Collective Efficacy across Cultures," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 80(3), pages 192-212, December.
    10. Mehdi Boussebaa & Shuchi Sinha & Yiannis Gabriel, 2014. "Englishization in offshore call centers: A postcolonial perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(9), pages 1152-1169, December.
    11. Steers, Richard M. & Sanchez-Runde, Carlos & Nardon, Luciara, 2012. "Leadership in a global context: New directions in research and theory development," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 479-482.
    12. Stacey Fitzsimmons & Mustafa F. Özbilgin & David C. Thomas & Stella Nkomo, 2023. "Equality, diversity, and inclusion in international business: A review and research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(8), pages 1402-1422, October.
    13. Back, Hilla & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2024. "Language-based discrimination in multilingual organizations: A comparative study of migrant professionals’ experiences across physical and virtual spaces," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(3).
    14. Kyle Lewis, 2004. "Knowledge and Performance in Knowledge-Worker Teams: A Longitudinal Study of Transactive Memory Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(11), pages 1519-1533, November.
    15. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1993. "Knowledge of the Firm and the Evolutionary Theory of the Multinational Corporation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 24(4), pages 625-645, December.
    16. Ponomareva, Yuliya & Uman, Timur & Bodolica, Virginia & Wennberg, Karl, 2022. "Cultural diversity in top management teams: Review and agenda for future research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).
    17. Zander, Lena & Mockaitis, Audra I. & Butler, Christina L., 2012. "Leading global teams," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 592-603.
    18. Günter K Stahl & Martha L Maznevski & Andreas Voigt & Karsten Jonsen, 2010. "Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A meta-analysis of research on multicultural work groups," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(4), pages 690-709, May.
    19. Simcha Ronen & Oded Shenkar, 2013. "Mapping world cultures: Cluster formation, sources and implications," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(9), pages 867-897, December.
    20. Tingley, Dustin & Yamamoto, Teppei & Hirose, Kentaro & Keele, Luke & Imai, Kosuke, 2014. "mediation: R Package for Causal Mediation Analysis," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 59(i05).
    21. Zander, Lena & Butler, Christina L., 2010. "Leadership modes: Success strategies for multicultural teams," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 258-267, September.
    22. Song Lin & Zhengda Xu & Zhenzhen Xie, 2023. "Cultural diversity in semi-virtual teams: A multicultural esports team study," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(4), pages 718-730, June.
    23. Tavoletti, Ernesto & Stephens, Robert D. & Taras, Vas & Dong, Longzhu, 2022. "Nationality biases in peer evaluations: The country-of-origin effect in global virtual teams," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tenzer, Helene & Pudelko, Markus, 2017. "The influence of language differences on power dynamics in multinational teams," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 45-61.
    2. Günter K Stahl & Martha L Maznevski, 2021. "Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A retrospective of research on multicultural work groups and an agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 4-22, February.
    3. Julia Backmann & Rouven Kanitz & Amy Wei Tian & Patrick Hoffmann & Martin Hoegl, 2020. "Cultural gap bridging in multinational teams," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(8), pages 1283-1311, October.
    4. Anne Bartel-Radic & Fabienne Munch, 2023. "Cross-cultural boundary spanning activities in a global team," Post-Print halshs-04148890, HAL.
    5. Dana Minbaeva & Stacey Fitzsimmons & Chris Brewster, 2021. "Beyond the double-edged sword of cultural diversity in teams: Progress, critique, and next steps," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 45-55, February.
    6. Catherine Durnell Cramton & Tine Köhler & Raymond E. Levitt, 0. "Using scripts to address cultural and institutional challenges of global project coordination," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-22.
    7. Hong, Sungjin J. & Lee, Seung-Hyun, 2015. "Reducing cultural uncertainty through experience gained in the domestic market," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 428-438.
    8. Catherine Durnell Cramton & Tine Köhler & Raymond E. Levitt, 2021. "Using scripts to address cultural and institutional challenges of global project coordination," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 56-77, February.
    9. Stacey Fitzsimmons & Mustafa F. Özbilgin & David C. Thomas & Stella Nkomo, 2023. "Equality, diversity, and inclusion in international business: A review and research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(8), pages 1402-1422, October.
    10. Song Lin & Zhengda Xu & Zhenzhen Xie, 2023. "Cultural diversity in semi-virtual teams: A multicultural esports team study," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(4), pages 718-730, June.
    11. Alon Lisak & Miriam Erez & Yang Sui & Cynthia Lee, 2016. "The positive role of global leaders in enhancing multicultural team innovation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(6), pages 655-673, August.
    12. Glikson, Ella & Erez, Miriam, 2020. "The emergence of a communication climate in global virtual teams," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).
    13. Yayla, Serdar & Kutlubay, Omer Cem & Cicek, Mesut & Yeniyurt, Sengun, 2023. "Once upon a time in a foreign market: The role of cultural distance in the economic performance of multilateral non-equity partnerships," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    14. Back, Hilla & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2024. "Language-based discrimination in multilingual organizations: A comparative study of migrant professionals’ experiences across physical and virtual spaces," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(3).
    15. Stacey R Fitzsimmons & Yuan Liao & David C Thomas, 2017. "From crossing cultures to straddling them: An empirical examination of outcomes for multicultural employees," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(1), pages 63-89, January.
    16. Ponomareva, Yuliya & Uman, Timur & Bodolica, Virginia & Wennberg, Karl, 2022. "Cultural diversity in top management teams: Review and agenda for future research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).
    17. Şahin, Faruk & Taras, Vas & Çetin, Fatih & Tavoletti, Ernesto & Askun, Duysal & Florea, Liviu, 2024. "A configurational approach for analyzing cultural values and performance in Global Virtual Teams," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1).
    18. Tavoletti, Ernesto & Bernhard, Theresa & Dong, Longzhu & Taras, Vas, 2023. "Peer performance evaluations in global virtual teams: A longitudinal analysis of surface- and deep-level attributes," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    19. Hundschell, Andreas & Backmann, Julia & Tian, Amy Wei & Hoegl, Martin, 2022. "Leaders' cultural gap bridging behaviors and subordinates' work engagement in multinational teams," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    20. Wang, Qiu & Clegg, Jeremy & Mattos, Hanna Gajewska-De & Buckley, Peter J., 2023. "It’s personal: The emotional dimension of psychic distance perception in intercultural knowledge transfer," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:59:y:2024:i:3:s1090951624000191. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620401/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.