Fusing Creativity: Cultural Metacognition and Teamwork in Multicultural Teams

Abstract

AbstractThis study elaborates theoretically and tests empirically a model linking fusion teamwork to creativity in multicultural teams (Janssens & Brett, 2006). The study also introduces cultural metacognition, a dimension of cultural intelligence (Earley & Ang, 2003), as an antecedent of fusion teamwork and creativity. Data were from 246 members of 37 multicultural teams. Results generated from a multilevel modeling analysis were consistent with hypotheses: Across teams, when team members were more highly culturally metacognitive, fusion teamwork and creativity were more likely. All analyses were controlled for generalized affect toward the team to reduce threats to validity of common method bias and affect. The results suggest the value of fusion teamwork for generating creativity in multicultural teams and the importance of having members of multicultural teams who have high versus low levels of cultural metacognition.