Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
06:45
Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
Published on: April 18, 2017
Task conflict and team creativity: a question of how much and when
Jiing-Lih Farh1, Cynthia Lee, Crystal I C Farh
1School of Business, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|August 20, 2010
Summary
Moderate task conflict boosts team creativity, especially in early project phases. High or low conflict levels, and conflict in later stages, do not enhance creativity in project teams.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Behavior
- Team Dynamics
- Innovation Management
Background:
- Task conflict is a key element in team dynamics, influencing collaboration and outcomes.
- Existing literature presents mixed findings on the relationship between task conflict and team creativity.
- Project team development is often studied separately from conflict and creativity dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contingency effects of task conflict on team creativity within project teams.
- To examine how the level and timing of task conflict impact team creativity across the project life cycle.
- To develop a model integrating task conflict, team creativity, and project team development.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted with 71 information technology project teams in the greater China region.
- Quantitative methods were used to analyze the relationship between task conflict and team creativity.
- The moderating role of team phase (early vs. later stages) was assessed.
Main Results:
- Task conflict exhibited a curvilinear effect on team creativity, with moderate levels yielding the highest creativity.
- This curvilinear relationship was most pronounced during the early phases of the project team life cycle.
- In later project phases, task conflict showed no significant relationship with team creativity.
Conclusions:
- The impact of task conflict on team creativity is contingent on its level and the project team's developmental phase.
- Optimal team creativity is achieved through moderate task conflict during early project stages.
- Managing task conflict strategically is crucial for fostering innovation throughout a project's lifecycle.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Creative Thinking
Creative thinking encompasses innovative and unconventional methods for addressing challenges, often leading to groundbreaking solutions. Instead of focusing solely on enhancing existing systems, such as increasing smartphone battery capacity, creative thinking might inspire advancements like energy-efficient batteries or processors that minimize power consumption. This multidimensional approach underscores the importance of exploring novel pathways to innovation.
Divergent thinking is the...
Divergent thinking is the...
01:37Social Loafing
Another way in which a group presence can affect performance is social loafing—the exertion of less effort by a person working together with a group. Social loafing occurs when our individual performance cannot be evaluated separately from the group. Thus, group performance declines on easy tasks (Karau & Williams, 1993). Essentially individual group members loaf and let other group members pick up the slack. Because each individual’s efforts cannot be evaluated, individuals become less...
01:20Frustration and Conflict: Approach-Approach, Approach-Avoidance
Frustration occurs when people are obstructed or prevented from achieving a desired goal or fulfilling a perceived need. For example, when someone's input is ignored in a discussion, it can lead to feelings of frustration. Conflict, however, arises from opposing interests, goals, or actions. Conflicts can take various forms based on the nature of these opposing desires or goals.
One common type of conflict is the Approach–Approach Conflict. In this case, a person faces two desirable options,...
One common type of conflict is the Approach–Approach Conflict. In this case, a person faces two desirable options,...
01:25Impact of Individuals on a Group
In social psychology, the interplay between individuals and groups is a central concern, particularly regarding how individual actions and characteristics influence group processes and outcomes. While much research emphasizes the group's power in shaping individual behavior, it is equally significant to understand how individuals contribute to the functioning, development, and success of groups.Individual Roles in Group Productivity and Decision-MakingIndividuals are not passive participants in...
01:14Frustration and Conflict: Avoidance-Avoidance, Double-Approach Avoidance
Avoidance-avoidance conflict refers to a psychological situation where a person must choose between two or more unpleasant alternatives. These conflicts are particularly stressful because neither option is desirable. This dilemma is often expressed in sayings like "caught between a rock and a hard place" or "between the devil and the deep blue sea." For instance, individuals who fear dental procedures may find themselves torn between enduring a painful toothache or facing the anxiety of...
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...