Andrew Pirola-Merlo

How leaders influence the impact of affective events on team climate and performance in R&D teams

Abstract Recently, a variety of leading scholars have issued urgent calls for research into the emotional dimensions of work, arguing that progress in the understanding of organizational behavior is being hampered by a failure to consider the bounded emotionality aspects of human behavior in addition to the bounded rationality aspects. We report on findings from a longitudinal study of research and development (R&D) teams that sheds light on the emotional dimensions of teamwork and knowledge work, with particular attention to the role of team leadership. The paper contributes to the evaluation of the role of emotions and the value of Affective Events Theory (AET) in studies of leadership by (a) identifying the obstacles to innovation and performance in R&D teams, (b) testing the relations between negative events, team affective climate, and team performance, and (c) by identifying the role of team leadership in response to negative events in R&D teams. Practical and scholarly implications for leadership of teams are discussed.

The innovation imperative - The relationships between team climate, innovation, and performance in research and development teams

A team’s climate for innovation has been shown to be important for innovation in management and work teams. This article investigates the relationship of team climate with project team innovation and performance in research and development organizations. It is argued that the relationship between team climate and innovation will be stronger for research teams than development teams as research teams have greater scope for creating novel and innovative ideas. A sample of 193 scientists and technologists in 20 research teams and 18 development teams were measured on their team’s climate for innovation, team performance, and six indicators of innovation. Research and development teams showed similar ratings for team climate and for measures of innovation. However, the relationships between team climate and individual and team innovation were stronger for research teams than development teams. These findings are significant for fostering innovativeness and innovation in knowledge work teams.

The Innovation Imperative

A team’s climate for innovation has been shown to be important for innovation in management and work teams. This article investigates the relationship of team climate with project team innovation and performance in research and development organizations. It is argued that the relationship between team climate and innovation will be stronger for research teams than development teams as research teams have greater scope for creating novel and innovative ideas. A sample of 193 scientists and technologists in 20 research teams and 18 development teams were measured on their team’s climate for innovation, team performance, and six indicators of innovation. Research and development teams showed similar ratings for team climate and for measures of innovation. However, the relationships between team climate and individual and team innovation were stronger for research teams than development teams. These findings are significant for fostering innovativeness and innovation in knowledge work teams.