We examine the effect of group level skills on group processes and collective outcomes in multilingual, multicultural global virtual teams. We test a moderated mediation model in which cultural intelligence (CQ) is found to moderate the relationship between average team perceived English language proficiency, team creativity, and team performance with the variables of elaboration of task information and task conflict serving as mediators in the relationship. Data was gathered from 5,852 people working in 895 teams to test the model. Results show that the average English proficiency of the team is positively associated with both team creativity and overall team performance through the mediator of elaboration of task information. CQ moderates this relationship such that teams high in average CQ are much better at elaborating task information as average team English skills increase while teams with low average CQ experience only minimal increases in task elaboration as English skills increase. The model is not significant, however, when using average levels of task conflict on the team as a mediating variable. CQ does not moderate conflict, and conflict is not significantly related to either creativity or overall team performance. We explore implications for managerial practice and directions for future research.
Keywords: GVTs; CQ; English proficiency; elaboration of task-relevant information; task conflict; team creativity; team performance
Study on the Relationship between the Team Boundary Work and Team Performance—Based on the Moderating Effect of Boundaryless Mindset