Affective Reactions to Cross-Functional Teams: The Impact of Size, Relative Performance, and Common In-Group Identity.

This study examined the extent to which (a) the formation of a common in-group identity mitigated the negative effects of functional heterogeneity and (b) group size and relative group performance influenced the formation of a common in-group identity once cross-functional teams are formed. Results of a laboratory experiment with 79 student groups indicate that relative group performance did influence the formation of a common in-group identity and that the in-group identity served to improve affective reactions (i.e., satisfaction and preference to work with the group). Findings are discussed in terms of the impact on cross-functional teams. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)