Management Papers

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

8-2006

Publication Source

Management Science

Volume

52

Issue

8

Start Page

1170

Last Page

1184

DOI

10.1287/mnsc.1060.0530

Abstract

Knowledge gathering can create problems as well as benefits for project teams in work environments characterized by overload, ambiguity, and politics. This paper proposes that the value of knowledge gathering in such environments is greater under conditions that enhance team processing, sensemaking, and buffering capabilities. The hypotheses were tested using independent quality ratings of 96 projects and survey data from 485 project-team members collected during a multimethod field study. The findings reveal that three capability-enhancing conditions moderated the relationship between knowledge gathering and project quality: slack time, organizational experience, and decision-making autonomy. More knowledge gathering helped teams to perform more effectively under favorable conditions but hurt performance under conditions that limited their capabilities to utilize that knowledge successfully. Implications for theory and research on knowledge and learning in organizations, team effectiveness, and organizational design are discussed.

Copyright/Permission Statement

The original, published version of the article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.1060.0530

Comments

At the time of publication, author Martine R. Haas was affiliated with Cornell University. Currently, she is a faculty member at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Keywords

knowledge management, project teams, capabilities, quality, work environment

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Date Posted: 19 February 2018

This document has been peer reviewed.