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Who Does the Talking Here? The Impact of Gender Composition on Team Interactions

Author

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  • David Hardt
  • Lea Mayer
  • Johannes Rincke

Abstract

We analyze how the gender composition of teams affects team interactions. In an online experiment, we randomly assign individuals to gender-homogenous or gender-mixed teams. Teams meet in an audio chat room and jointly work on a gender-neutral team task. By design, effects on team performance can only work through communication. We find that all-male teams communicate more than all-female teams and outperform teams of both alternative gender compositions. In mixed teams, males strongly dominate the team conversation quantitatively. Past exposure to gender-mixed teamwork makes females more reluctant to engage in mixed teams, while for males the opposite is true.

Suggested Citation

  • David Hardt & Lea Mayer & Johannes Rincke, 2023. "Who Does the Talking Here? The Impact of Gender Composition on Team Interactions," CESifo Working Paper Series 10550, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10550
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    Cited by:

    1. Timm Opitz, 2024. "Interpersonal Preferences and Team Performance: The Role of Liking in Complex Problem Solving," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 492, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    teams; teamwork; gender composition; communication; team performance; preference for teamwork; online experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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