Alliance management teams and entrainment: Sharing temporal mental models

Abstract

Creating and administrating successful strategic alliances poses a significant challenge to interorganizational managerial teams. Using shared mental model theory as a framework, we propose that the effectiveness of these managerial teams can be increased if the team shares a common temporal mental model with regard to the alliance. Specifically, a shared mental model in terms of the elements of entrainment (e.g. cycle, pace, time orientation) will allow team members to actively assess and better manage entrainment issues which we suggest are a crucial component of strategic alliances, although not one that has been studied to a great extent.

When shared cognition leads to closed minds: Temporal mental models, team learning, adaptation and performance

“…Further, a temporal mental model allows team members to anticipate and understand how the actions of the other team members fit within the plans and schedules, and to know in advance what other team members need to finish a task on time (Gevers, Rutte, & van Eerde, 2006;Standifer & Bluedorn, 2006). A similar temporal mental model helps team members to synchronize their actions with the actions of other members; while an accurate temporal mental model helps to fit the team' actions with the external temporal demands (Gevers et al, 2006;Mohammed et al, 2012Mohammed et al, , 2015.…”

“…Moreover, several authors argued that shared mental models should cover not only task and team contents but also the temporal aspects of work (Guiette & Vandenbempt, 2013;Mohammed et al, 2012;Standifer & Bluedorn, 2006). However, to date there are only two studies (Mohammed et al, 2015;Santos et al, 2015) measuring temporal mental models.…”

“…Team members need to have similar knowledge about the deadlines, the pacing at which activities occur, and the time available for each activity in order to engage in team learning behaviors (Gevers et al, 2006;Standifer & Bluedorn, 2006). By sharing this temporal understanding, team members are able to more efficiently learn from each other, seek feedback, and reflect on results.…”

“…As teams operate in organizational contexts that are systematically pressured by time, they are better able to engage in learning behaviors when team members share a temporal mental model -common knowledge about deadlines for task accomplishment, the pacing or speed at which activities occur, the time available for each activity, and the sequencing of tasks (Mohammed, Hamilton, Tesler, Mancuso & McNeese, 2015;Santos, Uitdewilligen, & Passos, 2015;Standifer & Bluedorn, 2006). A temporal mental model helps teams to coordinate their activities according to the time schedule and to anticipate and understand the actions of each other based on a commonly shared blueprint of plans and schedules (Mohammed et al, 2015;Santos et al, 2015).…”

Organizational entrainment and international new ventures from emerging markets

“…One of the most important challenges involves synchronizing the new venture's activities with those of its international customers. Such synchronization, or organizational entrainment, reflects a temporal fit between the firm and its environment-a fit that can enhance organizational performance (Ancona and Chong, 1996;McGrath et al, 1984;Pérez-Nordtvedt et al, 2008;Standifer and Bluedorn, 2006). Entrainment is relevant in many contexts (e.g., Ancona and Chong 1996;Bluedorn and Martin 2008); however, entraining with foreign customers represents a particularly important issue for INVs from emerging markets.…”