Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering

Program/Concentration

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering

Committee Director

Pilar Pazos

Committee Member

Charlie Daniels

Committee Member

Max Siangchokyoo

Abstract

Sociotechnical networks have become integral frameworks in the accomplishment of organizational objectives by increasingly diverse, cross-functional, and technology-enabled modern teams. In cross-disciplinary teamwork, multiple mediating and moderating factors appear to lend context to the effects of team diversity faultlines on team outcomes. In the several decades of research into teamwork from a network perspective, there has been a paucity of empirical studies that examine how team transition processes and cross-disciplinary connections influence the impact of faultlines on team performance. This study investigates the association among perceived teamwork effectiveness, transition processes, cross-functional team connections, and faultlines in the context of sociotechnical teams composed of cross-disciplinary groups linked by contemporary communication technology.

This research aids in the closure of the gap in teamwork knowledge by enhancing the understanding of the role that network analysis and team processes can play in impacting effectiveness. Using a positivistic research methodology, this study examines the relationship among team biodemographic and functional faultlines, transition process engagement, cross-disciplinary connections, and teamwork effectiveness in cross-functional teams composed of students from the engineering and education disciplines. Quantitative data collected on these key variables are analyzedusing associational inferential statistical analyses. Results based on the quantitative analyses illustrate that team faultlines are associated with a significant negative impact on perceived teamwork effectiveness, while transition process engagement has a nuanced influence on the relationship. Cross-disciplinary connections are not found have a significant positive influence on the relationship between faultlines and effectiveness. The findings contribute to an improved understanding of planning and strategy formulation across faultlines in knowledge work in ways that team leaders can leverage to more effectively manage diverse and cross-functional contemporary teams. Limitations of the current study are discussed. Investigation of potential relationships at the team and individual levels among additional aspects of diversity, collaboration, and team leadership in the cross-functional context provides new possibilities for future research.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/mbz3-gj06

ISBN

9798280746763

ORCID

0009-0009-2176-3094

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