Publications

2003
Working Paper

Learning from Diversity: The Effects of Learning on Performance in Racially Diverse Teams

By: Robin J. Ely and David A. Thomas

May 2006
Module Note

Leading Culturally Diverse Teams

By: Robin J. Ely

Describes the Leading Culturally Diverse Teams module (eight class sessions), which teaches students the leadership perspectives and skills necessary to develop high-functioning, culturally diverse teams (teams diverse in, for example, race, ethnicity, gender,... View Details

Keywords: Competency and Skills; Diversity; Leadership; Groups and Teams; Perspective; Culture

Article

Team Scaffolds: How Mesolevel Team Structures Enable Role-based Coordination in Temporary Groups

By: Melissa A. Valentine and Amy C. Edmondson

This paper shows how mesolevel structures support effective coordination in temporary groups. Prior research on coordination in temporary groups describes how roles encode individual responsibilities so that coordination between relative strangers is possible. We... View Details

Keywords: Groups and Teams; Health Care and Treatment; Cooperation; Health Industry

27 Jul 2021
News

Building Successful Hybrid Teams

17 Dec 2012
Research & Ideas

Teaming in the Twenty-First Century

and solutions applicable to organizations of all shapes and sizes to help them put effective teaming into practice. The book synthesizes 20 years of research. And unlike many authors, Edmondson did not find... View Details

Keywords: by Maggie Starvish

2008
Simulation

Everest Leadership and Team Simulation

By: Michael A. Roberto and Amy C. Edmondson

This item is currently not available for purchase on this site. To order, please contact Customer Service - (800) 545-7685 or (617) 783-7600. **REVISED AUGUST 2009!** This web-based simulation uses the dramatic context of a Mount Everest expedition to reinforce student... View Details

Keywords: Cooperation; Decision Choices and Conditions; Groups and Teams; Knowledge Sharing; Leadership

2014
Article

Where Global and Virtual Meet: The Value of Examining the Intersection of These Elements in Twenty-First-Century Teams

By: Cristina B. Gibson, Laura Huang, Bradley L. Kirkman and Debra L. Shapiro

We review prior research that has examined virtuality in teams (e.g., pertaining to the use of electronic media) or the global nature of teams (e.g., national and cultural differences), demonstrating that very few scholars have examined both simultaneously. Given that... View Details

Keywords: Global Virtual Teams; Cultural Diversity; Electronic Communication; Computer-mediated Communication; Groups and Teams; Global Range; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Interactive Communication

December 2021
Article

Seeing Oneself as a Valued Contributor: Social Worth Affirmation Improves Team Information Sharing

By: Julia Lee Cunningham, Francesca Gino, Dan Cable and Bradley Staats

Teams often fail to reach their potential because members’ concerns about being socially accepted prevent them from offering their unique perspectives to the team. Drawing on relational self and self-affirmation theory, we argue that affirmation of team members’ social... View Details

Keywords: Social Worth Affirmation; Relational Identity; Self-affirmation; Information Sharing In Teams; Concerns About Social Acceptance; Groups and Teams; Identity; Relationships; Knowledge Sharing

Article

The Scandal Effect

By: George Serafeim

Executives with scandal-tainted companies on their résumés pay a penalty on the job market, even if they clearly had nothing to do with the trouble. Because the scandal effect is lasting, a company you left long ago could have an impact on your current and future job... View Details

Keywords: Misconduct; Career; Career Management; Career Changes; Executive Leadership; Executive Development; Crime and Corruption; Executive Compensation; Personal Development and Career; Management Skills; Management Teams

Register to Read

27 Sep 2010
News

Under Pressure, Teams Ignore Experts

August 2014 (Revised May 2015)
Case

Teaming at Disney Animation

By: Amy C. Edmondson, David L. Ager, Emily Harburg and Natalie Bartlett

Jonathan Geibel, Director of Systems at Walt Disney Animation Studios (hereafter referred to as Disney Animation), walked through the workspace occupied by the group he had been tasked to lead. Geibel knew he was part of a creative and magical environment. The Disney... View Details

Keywords: Leading Change; Creativity; Organizational Structure; Animation Entertainment; Organizational Culture; Groups and Teams; Motion Pictures and Video Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; United States

January 2024
Case

Deion Sanders: The Prime Effect

By: Hise O. Gibson, Nicole Gilmore and Alicia Dadlani

In 2023, Deion Sanders, known as “Coach Prime,” became head football coach of the University of Colorado Boulder (CU). Sanders was tasked with leading CU’s struggling football program, which had only achieved one winning season in the last 15 years, back to glory. Many... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Style; Leading Change; Management Style; Race; Prejudice and Bias; Sports; Experience and Expertise; Sports Industry; United States; Colorado

01 Jun 2008
News

Team MBA

students firsthand experience with team dynamics. “Learning teams are becoming part of the culture at HBS,” says Professor Jeff Polzer, faculty chair of the MBA Learning Teams... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services

February 2003
Background Note

Identity Issues in Teams

By: Jeffrey T. Polzer and Hillary Anger Elfenbein

This note explains how identity dynamics underlie many of the observable interpersonal problems that team members encounter, ranging from lack of participation and low involvement to misunderstandings and dysfunctional emotional conflict. It provides a framework for... View Details

Keywords: Framework; Managerial Roles; Outcome or Result; Performance Effectiveness; Groups and Teams; Conflict and Resolution; Emotions; Identity

13 Jul 2023
News

The Network Effect

Karan Mathur (left) and Dina Model (Illustration by Gisela Goppel) Karan Mathur (left) and Dina Model (Illustration by Gisela Goppel) When Dina Model and Karan Mathur (both MBA 2015) met through mutual friends during their first year at HBS, neither was envisioning a... View Details

2021
Working Paper

Diversity and Performance in Entrepreneurial Teams

By: Sophie Calder-Wang, Paul A. Gompers and Kevin Huang

We study the role of diversity and performance in the entrepreneurial teams. We exploit a unique dataset of MBA students who participated in a required course to propose and start a real micro-business that allows us to examine horizontal diversity (i.e., within the... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Groups and Teams; Diversity; Performance

Read Now

14 May 2009
Sharpening Your Skills

Sharpening Your Skills: Managing Teams

Sharpening Your Skills dives into the HBS Working Knowledge archives to bring together articles on ways to improve your business skills. Questions To Be Answered How does a team leader win the confidence of the group? What's the best... View Details

Keywords: Re: Multiple Faculty

September 2005 (Revised March 2009)
Background Note

Developing an Effective Living Group

By: Michael Beer, John J. Gabarro and Michael L. Tushman

Discusses the importance of living room groups (eight participants who share a living room) in Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program developing into effective learning groups. The diversity of the groups is a strength, but only a conscious and concerted... View Details

Keywords: Executive Education; Groups and Teams; Competency and Skills; Learning; Diversity; Growth and Development