Goal Setting And Team Performance In Innovative Projects:

Abstract

Previous research has identified goal setting as an important determinant of the performance of teams with innovative tasks. This study aims to further the understanding of how teams successfully perform goal setting given the collaborative nature of innovative projects. The authors argue that the quality of teamwork serves as an important facilitator to the successful enactment of goal setting in team projects. Using data from 575 members, leaders, and managers of 145 software development teams, they test direct and moderated relationships between goal setting and effectiveness (quality) and efficiency (schedule, budget). Results indicate that goal setting is directly related to both effectiveness and efficiency. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses show that teamwork quality moderates these relationships. Implications for research and practice are discussed.