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Factors Influencing Team Flow: What Can R&D Project Teams in High Technology Organizations Learn from Other Fields? A Systematic Scoping Review

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  • Kiran Govind

    (Department of Technology Management, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DU))

  • Sumati Sidharth

    (Department of Technology Management, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DU))

Abstract

Team flow, an emerging area of research in team science, is found to enhance the effectiveness and performance of teams, leading to positive team outcomes. In this paper, an effort is made for the first time to analyze team flow in the context of research and development (R&D) project teams. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it provides a scoping review of the published literature on team flow in the last 10 years and identifies the critical factors that can influence and enhance team flow in organizational teams across various domains. Second, it examines the findings and consolidates the existing knowledge into an integrative team flow framework called the 5R model applicable to R&D project teams. Thirty-nine peer-reviewed journal articles that met the selection criteria were identified, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic review. The analysis includes an individual examination of each publication and a structured, integrative synthesis of all publications based on a proposed framework to nurture team flow in R&D project teams. Through the systematic review, the key factors that contribute to team flow were identified and categorized in the 5R model under the 5 Rs—Resonant, Reflection, Response, Resultant, and Reinforcing—which represent 5 different types of team processes that an R&D team undergoes for accomplishing its objectives. The present paper has reviewed the existing state of research in the field of team flow and identified the factors affecting team flow. These factors have also been analyzed for building an unique integrative team flow framework in the context of R&D project teams. The review has brought out key points to refine the existing team flow model and highlight the necessity of more focused research in the context of team flow in R&D teams. Overall, the paper provides recommendations and pathways for future research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of team flow in R&D project teams.

Suggested Citation

  • Kiran Govind & Sumati Sidharth, 2025. "Factors Influencing Team Flow: What Can R&D Project Teams in High Technology Organizations Learn from Other Fields? A Systematic Scoping Review," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(3), pages 11484-11519, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:16:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s13132-024-02212-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-024-02212-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aubé, Caroline & Brunelle, Éric & Rousseau, Vincent, 2014. "Flow Experience and Team Performance: The Role of Team Goal Commitment and Information Exchange," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 120-130.
    2. Sonia Ben Slimane & Régis Coeurderoy & Hatem Mhenni, 2022. "Digital transformation of small and medium enterprises: a systematic literature review and an integrative framework," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(2), pages 96-120, April.
    3. Martin Hoegl & Hans Georg Gemuenden, 2001. "Teamwork Quality and the Success of Innovative Projects: A Theoretical Concept and Empirical Evidence," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 435-449, August.
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