How leaders influence cohesive and productive teams in organizations
Abstract
Studies about group cohesion have found that under some conditions (e.g.
task oriented norms), there is a positive relationship between cohesion and
performance (Evans & Dion, 1991). In this dissertation, I examine what leaders
do, communicatively, to create cohesion in their teams. Drawing from work in
military environments (Dobbins & Zaccaro, 1986), among sports teams (Shields,
Gardner, Bredemeier, & Bostro, 1997), and other contexts I review the
relationships between (a) cohesion and productivity, and (b) leadership
communication and cohesion. Surprisingly, there are few studies probing these
relationships in business settings. I then test these presumed relationships in
Mexican firms. The analysis indicates that there is a positive relationship between
task norms and goal acceptance with independently rated task performance. In
addition, the impact of leaders’ communication on group cohesion is confirmed.
Department
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