Linking educational diversity and team performance: Team communication quality and innovation team climate matter

Abstract

This study examines the influence of education level diversity on team communication quality and team performance. Specifically, we propose a moderated mediation model with team communication quality as a mediator in the relationship between education level diversity and team performance, and with innovation team climate as a moderator in this mediated relationship. The study sample consisted of 57 bank branches, and a lagged design with three data‐collection points was implemented. The results obtained showed that, as expected, innovation team climate moderated the relationship between education level diversity and team communication quality, as well as the indirect effect linking education level diversity, team communication quality, and team performance.Practitioner points This study informs team managers about the contingent influence of education level diversity on work teams' functioning that should be taken into account when forming and managing teams composed of individuals with different levels of formal education. Education level diversity was found to influence team communication quality and performance positively when the level of innovation team climate was high, but negatively when it was low. Therefore, team managers should foster innovation climates in teams with members who have different levels of education. The aforementioned influence of education level diversity was transmitted through intrateam communication quality. Therefore, team managers should enhance the latter variable within educationally diverse teams.