Networks and Effectiveness in Work Teams: The Impact of Diversity

Abstract

This paper examine the role of social networks as mediating factors in the relationship between diversity and work team effectiveness. These effects were tested with a sample of 71 organizational teams. Results show that the degree of diversity in a team influences the density and centralization of the communication network. In turn, network density and centralization affect work team outcomes. Results are discussed in terms of their theoretical significance for network and diversity theory.