The curvilinear relationship between team familiarity and team innovation: A secondary data analysis. (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Xiao-Yun; Ji, Hao; Luan, Kun; Zhao, Ying-Zhen
• Is Part Of: Journal of management & organization. Volume 26:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 700
• Page End: 718
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: team familiarity, -- team innovation, -- external learning, -- R&D teams, -- electrical engineering industry; Management -- Periodicals; 658.005
• DOI: 10.1017/jmo.2017.85
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1833-3672

Abstract

Abstract: Paradoxical arguments and mixed empirical evidence coexist in the current literature concerning the relationship between team familiarity and team innovation. To resolve this contradiction, we apply habitual routines theory to propose that team familiarity and team innovation have an inverted U-shaped relationship. Using a data set of 68, 933 R&D teams in the electrical engineering industry, our results support a nonlinear relationship between team familiarity and team innovation, and suggest that the best innovative performance is produced by moderately familiar teams. Furthermore, we find that external learning can moderate this curvilinear relationship. Theoretical contributions and future implications are discussed.