Group power structure, inter-subgroup cross-dependency, and work group performance

Myung-Ho Chung (), Yumi Ko () and Jee-Young Kim ()
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Myung-Ho Chung: Ewha Womans University
Yumi Ko: Ewha Womans University
Jee-Young Kim: Ewha Womans University

Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 2020, vol. 37, issue 1, No 12, 297-323

Abstract: Abstract In this paper, we examine group power structure and intragroup process with a focus on demographic faultline and subgroups. Specifically, we investigate the effects of group faultline, power imbalance, and cross-dependency between subgroups on overall group performance. Drawing on mutual dependence theory, we develop a new construct of cross-dependency, which refers to dependence between subgroups across different resources. We also examine the moderating effect of LMX differentiation. Using data from 50 work teams from a manufacturing company in Korea, we found that group faultline itself did not have a significant impact on group performance. Instead, perceived power imbalance between subgroups was negatively associated with group performance. Consistent with our expectation, cross-dependency between subgroups in task-advice and friendship networks had a positive effect. Lastly, LMX differentiation exacerbated the negative effect of power imbalance and mitigated the positive effect of cross-dependency. We discuss implications of our findings for group faultline and subgroup theory to better understand the positive potential of subgroups and inter-subgroup process.

Keywords: Group faultline; Subgroups; Power imbalance; Cross-dependency; Social networks; LMX differentiation; Group performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s10490-018-9627-3

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