Multiple Team Membership: A Theoretical Model of its Effects on Productivity and Learning for Individuals and Teams

Academy of Management Review, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 461-478

Posted: 16 Sep 2009 Last revised: 11 Jun 2012

See all articles by Michael Boyer O'Leary

Michael Boyer O'Leary

Georgetown University - Department of Management

Mark Mortensen

INSEAD - Organisational Behaviour

Anita Williams Woolley

Carnegie Mellon University

Date Written: January 5, 2011

Abstract

Organizations use multiple team membership to enhance individual and team productivity and learning, but this structure creates competing pressures on attention and information, which make it difficult to increase both productivity and learning. Our model describes how the number and variety of multiple team memberships drive different mechanisms, yielding distinct effects. We show how carefully balancing the number and variety can enhance both productivity and learning.

Keywords: muliple team membership

Suggested Citation

O'Leary, Michael Boyer and Mortensen, Mark and Woolley, Anita Williams, Multiple Team Membership: A Theoretical Model of its Effects on Productivity and Learning for Individuals and Teams (January 5, 2011). Academy of Management Review, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 461-478, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1474336

Michael Boyer O'Leary (Contact Author)

Georgetown University - Department of Management ( email )

3700 O Street, NW
Washington, NY 20057
United States
202-687-9257 (Phone)

Mark Mortensen

INSEAD - Organisational Behaviour ( email )

Boulevard de Constance
77305 Fontainebleau Cedex
France

Anita Williams Woolley

Carnegie Mellon University ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States