Do Subgroups Harm or Help?: A Triad Pathway Model of Group Splits

Abstract: By reviewing the psychological, sociological, and economical literature on subgroups, we argue that converging evidence from several disciplines suggests a triad-pathway model of subgroup and team effectiveness. Essential to this model is the appreciation of the role of intergroup processes within subgroups, such as cooperation, coordination, and competition. These factors are of crucial importance to a proper understanding of the nature of subgroups in teams, its underlying mechanisms and different manifestations. Furthermore, we consider the team- and organizational-level moderators that may attenuate or weaken the relationships between subgroups and team effectiveness. We discuss the implications of this triad-pathway model for the assessment of team effectiveness and future research.

Keywords: subgroups, groups, teams, faultlines, diversity

Topic: TEAM   |   Format: Extended Abstract