What makes age diverse teams effective? Results from a six-year research program

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Human Resources Management
• Sociology of Work

Background:

• Age diversity in teams is a growing concern.
• Understanding the productivity implications of age-mixed teams is crucial for modern workplaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the productivity of age-diverse teams using a new model.
• To identify preconditions for the effectiveness of age-mixed teams.
• To develop and evaluate an intervention for supervisors to improve team performance and member health.

Main Methods:

• Collected data from 745 natural teams (8,848 employees) across car production, administrative work, and financial services.
• Tested model assumptions with a representative survey of 2,000 German employees.
• Developed and implemented a supervisor training program.

Main Results:

• Age-mixed teams present both significant advantages and disadvantages.
• Key preconditions for effectiveness include high task complexity, appreciation of diversity, positive team climate, low age discrimination, ergonomic workplaces, and age-differentiated leadership.
• The supervisor training reduced age stereotypes, team conflicts, and enhanced innovation.

Conclusions:

• Effective interventions for integrating older employees into workgroups are available.
• A combination of ergonomic design, team composition, and leadership strategies is recommended for practical implementation.
• Addressing age diversity proactively can enhance team performance and employee well-being.