The Influence of Representational Gaps on Team Processes and Performance

Abstract

Despite the oft touted benefits of having differences in task-related cognition, teams often do not capitalize on their heterogeneity. We add a nuance to this literature by examining representational gaps — fundamental incompatibilities in the way that team members conceptualize the problem and solution space — and show that they have a unique effect on performance above and beyond mere differences in cognition. In a laboratory study of 50 teams, the authors find that representational gaps decreased information elaboration and increased relationship conflict. Relationship conflict, in turn, mediated the negative relationship between gaps and performance, satisfaction and intent to remain. We discuss the implications of this work in the context of designing multi-disciplinary teams.

Keywords: Representational Gaps, Mental Models, Teams, Conflict, Information Elaboration