The impact of team competence on short- and long-term team performance

Abstract

Purpose Due to the current shortage of skilled employees, there is a growing need to cope with given team settings and to offer appropriate team training. For team training, it is important to know how different competences influence team performance. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of social and cognitive competences on team performance and the relationship of the different competence dimensions to each other. Design/methodology/approach Data of 53 student and work teams was collected through a digital simulation laboratory, designed as an escape game. Competences of 228 team members were assessed through questionnaires prior to the simulation. Team performance was measured through short-term performance indicators. Additionally, a postsimulation survey regarding a long-term performance indicator was carried out. Three multiple regression analyses and mediation analyses were conducted. Findings A tradeoff between cognitive and social competences regarding their impact on short- and long-term team performance is observed. Facets of cognitive competences enhanced short-term performance, whereas facets of social competences reduced short-term performance while enhancing long-term performance. Although cognitive competences show a positive direct effect on short term performance, a negative indirect effect, mediated by social competences, became apparent. Originality/value This paper contributes to harmonizing contradictory findings on the impact of high achievers in teams. Although they can have an impact on rapid problem solving, long-term performance depends more on facets of social competences than cognitive competences. Furthermore, social and cognitive competences are positively correlated, showing that teams with higher cognitive competences tend to become stronger in terms of their social competences over time.