Cooperative goals and team agreeableness composition for constructive controversy in China
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Asia Pacific Journal of Management
Publication Date
3-1-2010
Volume
27
Issue
1
First Page
139
Last Page
153
Publisher
Springer New York LLC
Keywords
Constructive controversy, Cooperative goals, Team agreeableness composition
Abstract
Studies have shown that constructive controversy, which is the open-minded discussion of diverse views, contributes to team effectiveness. However, there are few studies on the conditions that facilitate constructive controversy. This study explores the antecedents of constructive controversy from both team interdependence (cooperative goals) and team personality composition perspectives. Sixty customer service teams from a call center of a large mobile communication service provider in China participated in the study. Results further document that cooperative goals predict to constructive controversy. Agreeableness diversity was also found to be an antecedent of constructive controversy, and this effect was moderated by team agreeableness level: The higher the team average agreeableness, the stronger the positive association between agreeableness diversity and constructive controversy. Results were interpreted as suggesting that both cooperative goals and team agreeableness composition can develop constructive controversy in work teams in China and possibly in other cultures.
DOI
10.1007/s10490-009-9175-y
Print ISSN
02174561
E-ISSN
15729958
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Wang, Z., Chen, Y. N., Tjosvold, D., & Shi, K. (2010). Cooperative goals and team agreeableness composition for constructive controversy in china. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 27(1), 139-153. doi: 10.1007/s10490-009-9175-y