| In the past several decades, there are two emerging trends in the North American workforce: the increasing use of teams and the increasing demographic diversity. Previous studies yielded mixed findings regarding the effects of demographic diversity on team processes and team outcomes. More studies are needed to explore those factors that moderate the relation between diversity and team performance.; Using 53 teams made up of 162 undergraduate students from a large Midwestern university, the current study proposed and examined the moderating of a new construct, Perceived Knowledge and Skill Complementary Fit (PKSFIT), on the relations between team demographic diversity and team processes, and between team diversity and team outcomes. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling, it was found that PKSFIT had a positive impact on attitudinal variables such as smooth internal processes and team satisfaction, both at individual level and team level. Furthermore, this study found that PKSFIT did moderate the relation between demographic diversity and team processes and team outcomes. Specifically, when PKSFIT increased, the relation changed from a nonsignificant negative relation into a significant positive relation. In other words, PKSFIT not only changes the magnitude of relation, but also the direction.; The implications of the study, as well as the strengths and limitations, will be discussed in greater detail. |
