Socio-demographic factors and shared leadership behaviors in dispersed teams: Implications for human resource management - Muethel - 2012 - Human Resource Management - Wiley Online Library

HR Science Forum

Socio-demographic factors and shared leadership behaviors in dispersed teams: Implications for human resource management

1. Miriam Muethel^1,*,
2. Sarah Gehrlein²,
3. Martin Hoegl³

Article first published online: 27 JUL 2012

DOI: 10.1002/hrm.21488

© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Issue

Human Resource Management

Volume 51, Issue 4, pages 525–548, July/August 2012

Keywords:

• shared leadership;
• dispersed teams;
• team composition;
• socio-demographic factors;
• age;
• national diversity;
• female-to-male ratio

Abstract

Companies increasingly make use of geographically dispersed teams to capture knowledge residing at different locations. In this context, shared leadership is considered a key enabler of team performance. Taking a functional perspective on shared leadership, we thus investigate the relationship between shared leadership behaviors and team performance in dispersed teams. Furthermore, we analyze how socio-demographic factors that are characteristic for dispersed teams (i.e., high female-to-male ratio, high mean age, and high levels of national diversity) affect shared leadership behaviors. Based on data from 96 dispersed teams, we show that shared leadership behavior fosters team performance. Further, we find the socio-demographic characteristics typical for dispersed teams to foster shared leadership. Theoretical and managerial implications for human resource management are discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Socio-demographic factors and shared leadership behaviors in dispersed teams: Implications for human resource management - Muethel - 2012 - Human Resource Management - Wiley Online Library