A CLIMATE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ENHANCES THE SUCCESS OF FRONT END TEAMS

Ann-Marie I. Nienaber (), Verena Holtorf (), Jens Leker () and Gerhard Schewe ()
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Ann-Marie I. Nienaber: Coventry University, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
Verena Holtorf: University of Munster, Institute of Business Administration at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Leonardo-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
Jens Leker: University of Munster, Institute of Business Administration at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Leonardo-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
Gerhard Schewe: University of Munster, Chair of Personnel, Organisation and Innovation, Universitaetsstr. 14-16, 48143 Munster, Germany

International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), 2015, vol. 19, issue 02, 1-34

Abstract: This paper contributes to the discussion about initiative in teams at the front end of new product development processes (innovative teams). In contrast to the general opinion presented in the literature, this study points out that unstructured innovative teams are as much initiative in developing new ideas or in finding quick solutions when compared to structured innovative teams. Therefore we analyse the relationship between teamwork quality and team initiative in structured and unstructured teams at the front end of a new product development process and, in particular, we focus on a climate of psychological safety. To examine this relationship, data were collected by surveying 100 team members from different departments in a multinational company. It has been pointed out in the literature previously that where a team leader provides little structure at the micro level for team members there is a negative effect on the displays of initiative in the very early stages of the innovation process. However we can demonstrate that this effect can be reduced by a climate of psychological safety. Thus, it can be stated that unstructured teamwork combined with a climate of psychological safety is the way for teams at the front end of a new product development process to be successful.

Keywords: Innovative team; team quality; initiative; climate of psychological safety; front end (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1142/S1363919615500279

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