Linking Ethnic Composition and Performance: Information Integration Between Majority and Minority Members

Wei Zheng, Jun Wei

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Often labeled a double-edged sword, diversity can not only trigger social categorization that dampens group cohesion and performance, but it can also increase available information resources and enhance group performance. The ways in which a group integrates information from diverse members play a central role in determining whether and how it can reap benefits from diversity. Guided by research in team diversity and relational demography, we take a diversity-as-disparity approach and focus on the extent of information integration between majority- and minority-status members in a group. Specifically, drawing from social network research, we examine whether majority–minority information brokerage equality mediates the impact of ethnic composition on group performance. Based on data from 540 employees in 34 work groups from a Chinese organization, we find that majority–minority information brokerage equality mediates the impact of ethnic composition on performance but only when group climate is high. We also discuss theoretical and practical implications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)357-387
Number of pages31
JournalSmall Group Research
Volume49
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • diversity
  • ethnicity
  • group performance
  • social network

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