Abstracts
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of ‘requisite variety’ of an intercultural team on its effectiveness. Using a qualitative, longitudinal case-study method, five successive intercultural teams in one international company are analysed in order to question the effectiveness of the teams from the perspective of requisite variety. The results show that requisite variety is a necessary condition for team effectiveness. Yet, requisite variety is not easily actionable, and team processes moderate the link between requisite variety and team effectiveness. The team also needs enough time for forming, storming and norming, before requisite variety can have a positive impact on performing the task.
Keywords:
- law of requisite variety,
- requisite variety,
- intercultural teams,
- complexity,
- diversity,
- case study,
- team effectiveness
Résumé
L’objectif de cet article est d’analyser l’impact de la « variété requise » d’une équipe interculturelle sur sa performance. Pour ce faire, nous analysons cinq configurations successives d’une équipe interculturelle dans un groupe international, en nous appuyant sur une étude de cas qualitative et longitudinale. Les résultats montrent que la variété requise est une condition nécessaire à la performance de l’équipe. Or, la variété requise n’est pas facilement actionnable, et des processus d’équipe modèrent le lien entre la variété requise et la performance de l’équipe. L’équipe doit aussi avoir suffisamment de temps pour passer les phases de formation, turbulences et normalisation avant que la variété requise ne puisse avoir un impact positif sur la performance.
Mots-clés :
- loi de la variété requise,
- variété requise,
- équipe interculturelle,
- complexité,
- diversité,
- étude de cas,
- performance de l’équipe
Resumen
El objetivo de este artículo es analizar el impacto de la “variedad requerida” de un equipo intercultural sobre su desempeño. Utilizando un estudio de caso cualitativo y longitudinal, analizamos cinco configuraciones sucesivas de un equipo intercultural en una empresa internacional. Los resultados muestran que la variedad requerida es una condición necesaria para el desempeño del equipo. No obstante, la variedad requerida no es fácilmente utilizable, y los procesos de equipo regulan el nexo entre ésta y el desempeño del equipo. Además, el equipo debe pasar el suficiente tiempo por las etapas de formación, de turbulencia y de normalización antes que la variedad requerida pueda tener un impacto positivo en el desempeño.
Palabras clave:
- ley de la variedad requerida,
- variedad requerida,
- equipo intercultural,
- complejidad,
- diversidad,
- estudio de caso,
- desempeño de equipo
Appendices
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