Teams in Small Technology-Based Firms: The Roles of Diversity and Conflict Management

Abstract

This paper explores the effect diversity and conflict management have on the relationship between teamwork and organizational performance in small technology-based firms. The study of the relationship between these variables has involved quantitative research, with the results of the survey on 107 small Brazilian high-tech firms showing that diversity and conflict management positively moderate the relationship between teamwork and organizational performance. This means that higher levels of diversity and conflict management lead to better organizational performance. At the same time, our findings indicate that conflict management is important regardless of the level of diversity within teams. This research sheds new light on the factors for rendering teamwork more effective in this specific context.