OB - Diverstiy Text - The Categorization-Elaboration Model of Work Group Diversity Flashcards
Categorization-Elaboration Model
addresses work group diversity and its effect on performance
diversity
reflects the degree to which there are objective or subjective differences between people within the group.
job related diversity
concerns the functional background which is often grouped with variables like educational background
diverse work groups tend to
experience more problematic group process, for instance in terms of disrupted communication, lowered cooperation, or relational conflicts.
positive perspective: informational resource perspective
views diversity as an asset. Emphasis is on diversity as a source of information, knowledge, and expertise that may benefit the team.
negative perspective: social categorization perspective
people are more attracted to similar others, and as a consequence homogenous groups function more smoothly than diverse groups.
demographic diversity
age, gender…
difference in terms of performance btw. demographic and job-related diversity?
no
What is required to benefit from diversity as an informational source?
group information elaboration:
- the exchange, discussion, and integration of task-relevant information and perspectives.
group information elaboration
key mediating process explaining the positive effects of diversity on performance.
key moderator of diversity-elaboration relationship
processing motivation and ability, task requirements
(Diverse groups will only utilize their diverse informational resources to the extent that they are motivated and able to do so.)
Which requirements to complex tasks have?
Information elaboration requirements.
Task complexity as moderator
job related diversity is more important for
more complex tasks
self-categorization theory
extent to which a categorization is cognitively activated
comparative fit
refers to the extent to which a categorization captures similarities and differences between people.
normative fit
indicates the extent to which the categorization makes sense within the individual’s cognitive frame of reference.
cognitive accessibility
refers to the ease with which the categorization can be retrieved from memory and activated. The more easily a categorization can come to mind, the more likely it is to be salient.
what does intergroup bias do?
disrupts information elaboration
How does intergroup bias emerge?
Diversity can leads to social categorization and that can lead to intergroup bias.
The moderators are the normative fit, and identity threat.
How to manage diversity?
develop an understanding in the group of the importance of information elaboration.
Motivation follows from understanding the importance of information elaboration.
How can understanding be built in a group?
- through a process of team reflexivity (i.e. collectively reflecting on the team task and team process)
- through building awareness of the groups’ distributed expertise
Can can motivation be enhanced?
by fostering a climate that puts a premium on learning from diversity.
How can social categorization be weakened
through addressing the issue of normative fit.
- when a given categorization does not seem relevant to the individuals involved, it is less likely to be salient.
What has the highest identification?
diversity is associated with a higher identification than homogeneity for people believing in the value of diversity.
