Creativity in innovative projects: How teamwork matters

Abstract

This article investigates the influence of the quality of teamwork on the performance effects of domain-relevant skills and creative-thinking skills in innovation teams. We propose that the quality of teamwork is an important moderating condition facilitating the application of domain-relevant skills, while obstructing the application of creative-thinking skills. Using data from 575 members, leaders, and managers of 145 software development teams, we test direct and moderated relationships between teams' domain-relevant skills and creative-thinking skills with team effectiveness and efficiency. Results show that neither domain-relevant skills nor creative-thinking skills have direct effects on team effectiveness (i.e., quality of the software product) and team efficiency (i.e., adherence to schedule and budget objectives). However, the results show that teamwork quality has positive effects on the relationship between domain-relevant skills and team efficiency, while having negative effects on the relationship between creative-thinking skills and both team efficiency and effectiveness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.