Group harmony in the workplace: Conception, measurement, and validation

Chao C. Chen (), Ali F. Ünal (), Kwok Leung () and Katherine R. Xin ()
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Chao C. Chen: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Ali F. Ünal: Uludağ University
Kwok Leung: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Katherine R. Xin: China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)

Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 2016, vol. 33, issue 4, No 2, 903-934

Abstract: Abstract Based on a literature review of Chinese traditional philosophies and social science research on social harmony we formulated the group harmony construct, developed a scale, and tested its validity in two studies on 167 top management groups from China. Study 1 demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity of group harmony and evaluated its predictive validity against well-established constructs of relationship conflict, task conflict, group cohesiveness, psychological safety, and conflict avoidance. Study 2 further examined the construct and nomological validity of group harmony and tested the effects of group harmony and found that, as hypothesized, group harmony enhanced group innovative performance through increasing knowledge sharing among group members. However, instead of motivating innovative performance through fostering moderate levels of task conflict, group harmony enhanced innovative performance through reducing task conflict on the one hand and neutralizing the negative effect of task conflict on the other. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: Group harmony; Group cohesiveness; Relationship conflict; Task conflict; Top management groups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10490-016-9457-0

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