Social value orientation and work group outcomes

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose and predict an improved model for antecedents to work group productivity. Design/methodology/approach The Campion work group effectiveness model (CWGEM) provides a wide variety of variables or constructs to predict and measure the effectiveness of a team, but suffers from limitations. This paper introduces social value orientation (SVO) and suggests its potential utility as an alternative conceptualization of certain portions of CWGEM, which, based on the literature reviewed, has the potential to explain differences in social support, workload sharing and communication and cooperation within groups, resulting in one measure more efficiently replacing three. Findings A series of testable propositions offering revisions to CWGEM is presented, along with special consideration for the inclusion of SVO as a predictor of work group outcomes. This paper expands on a theoretically developed empirical model that can predict differences in work group production. Research limitations/implications The revision to CWGEM presented here requires empirical validation, but work group conflict could benefit from an additional factor that explains interpersonal conflict, as SVO does. Originality/value The authors’ primary contribution is offering a revision to CWGEM that could provide an improved explanation for differences in work group productivity using SVO and a model that could result in a more efficient and better measure.