Outcome interdependence shapes the effects of prevention focus on team processes and performance

Bianca Beersma, Astrid C. Homan, Gerben A. Van Kleef and Carsten K.W. De Dreu

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2013, vol. 121, issue 2, 194-203

Abstract: Although the effects of regulatory focus on individual-level performance have often been studied, relatively little is yet known about team-level effects. Filling this void, we integrate the notion that promotion-focused individuals are concerned with progress and achievement, whereas prevention-focused individuals are concerned with security and vigilance, with the insight that team processes and performance depend on outcome interdependence (individual versus team rewards). The hypothesis that prevention-focused teams react more strongly than promotion-focused teams to differences in outcome interdependence was tested among 50 teams performing an interactive command-and-control simulation. Regulatory focus and outcome interdependence were both manipulated. The results showed that prevention-focused teams working for team rather than individual rewards reported higher work engagement and less error intolerance, coordinated more effectively, and performed better. Promotion-focused teams were not influenced by outcome interdependence. We discuss the implications of our results for theory and effective team management.

Keywords: Regulatory Focus Theory; Teams; Group dynamics; Outcome interdependence; Incentives; Motivation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:121:y:2013:i:2:p:194-203

DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2013.02.003

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