Cultural Diversity and Team Performance

Paper Summary:

In today's sports, business, academic and other professional environments, conventional wisdom suggests that demographic and cultural diversity contribute positively to enhanced performance by groups or teams. Recent research suggests, however, that while diverse skills and abilities may in fact enhance group or team performance, demographic diversity (e.g. differences among team or group members in language, cultural, referential, or social background) may detract from it. This paper explores factors that make a group into a winning team, as well as analyzes both positive and negative effects of demographic characteristics and cultural diversity, on group and team behavior and performance.

From the Paper:

"As demonstrated, then, within research; current events, and popular culture alike, demographic and/or cultural diversity either may or may not enhance a team's or a group's performance, depending on the group or team itself; its members; its management and/or other influences; and its shared values, goals, and philosophies. Diversity of skill and ability, research shows, is in general more likely to enhance group or team performance than is cultural diversity."

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