Dancing with the Stars: Benefits of a Star Employee's Temporary Absence for Organizational Performance

Abstract

Research on star performers has primarily theorized about a star’s contributions as an individual rather than about the star’s contributions to teamwork. In contrast, we focus on organizations where stars and non-stars work closely and interdependently with each other. Central to our theory is the notion that, in such situations, building teamwork around a star is a complex learning process. In response, organizations simplify the learning process by prioritizing interpersonal interactions involving the star. Simplified learning improves organizational performance but also creates myopia. Our main claim is that the temporary absence of a star enables the organization to break this myopia by triggering a search for new routines. The organization may combine these new routines with those prior to the star’s absence to improve teamwork upon the star’s return. We predict that, as a result, an organization will perform better after a star’s return than before her absence. We find support for our prediction using comprehensive data from the National Basketball Association. This study contributes to research on organizational learning and on the challenges associated with utilizing star performers in organizations.