Team hierarchical adaptability: benefits for team coordination and performance

Nicole Abi-Esber, Lindred L. Greer and Annebel H. B. De Hoogh

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: We introduce the concept of hierarchical adaptability, which we define as a team’s relative capability to repeatedly and bidirectionally shift between different shapes of its influence hierarchy (i.e., more hierarchical or flatter) across tasks, while the team’s formal hierarchy remains constant. We provide a first investigation of the effects of team hierarchical adaptability, proposing that team hierarchical adaptability enables teams to achieve better coordination and team performance outcomes as they move across different tasks, compared to consistently hierarchical or flat teams. Five multimethod studies, including field data of intact teams and a laboratory experiment of interacting teams, provide support for our hypotheses.

JEL-codes: J50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-12-11
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Published in Academy of Management Journal, 11, December, 2025. ISSN: 0001-4273

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