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The relationship between team autonomy and new product development performance under different levels of technological turbulence

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

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Title The relationship between team autonomy and new product development performance under different levels of technological turbulence
Names Chen, Jiyao (creator)
Neubaum, Donald O. (creator)
Reilly, Richard R. (creator)
Lynn, Gary S. (creator)
Date Issued 2015-01 (iso8601)
Note This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-operations-management/
Abstract Operations management researchers have frequently suggested that autonomy can motivate
teams to actively and flexibly adapt to fast-changing environments, fostering innovation and
creative problem solving. However, empirical studies have not consistently supported the
benefits of team autonomy. We articulate the behavioral and mechanistic effects of team
autonomy by integrating operations management and behavioral literatures. Further, we view
team autonomy as a bipolar factor and argue that both the behavioral and mechanistic effects
of team autonomy on operational outcomes are non-linear. Drawing on information
processing theory, we propose that the benefits of team autonomy depend on the degree of
technological turbulence. A study of 212 new product development projects supports these
propositions. Specifically, the relationship between team autonomy and operational outcomes
is ∩-shaped in technologically turbulent environments and U-shaped in technologically stable
environments. Further, operational outcomes mediate the relationships between team
autonomy and product success. We discuss the theoretical implications regarding new
product development, operations management, the bipolarity of autonomy, and information-processing
theory.
Genre Article
Topic Team autonomy
Identifier Chen, J., Neubaum, D. O., Reilly, R. R., & Lynn, G. S. (2015). The relationship between team autonomy and new product development performance under different levels of technological turbulence. Journal of Operations Management, 33-34, 83-96. doi:10.1016/j.jom.2014.10.001

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