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Team Identification

Definition

'"The emotional significance that members of a given group attach to their membership in that group." (Van Der Vegt & Bunderson 2005, p. 533)

Key References 

  • Van Der Vegt, G. S., & Bunderson, J. S. (2005). Learning and Performance in Multidisciplinary Teams: The Importance of Collective Team Identification. Academy of Management Journal, 48(3), 532–547. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2005.17407918 
    • Argue that team identification is a multidimensional "motivational force" for team members and reported that collective team identification level influences the direction of the relationship between team diversity and performance
  • Janssen, O., & Huang, X. (2008). Us and Me: Team Identification and Individual Differentiation as Complementary Drivers of Team Members’ Citizenship and Creative Behaviors. Journal of Management, 34(1), 69–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206307309263 
    • Determined that organizational citizenship behavior is a link between team identification and indivdiual efficacy, measured team identification as a combination of self-categorization, team self-esteem, team commitment

Key Measurements

  • Meyer & Allen 1990 Affective Commitment Scale, Allen, N. J., & Meyer, J. P. (1990). The measurement and antecedents of affective, continuance and normative commitment to the organization. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 63(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1990.tb00506.x
  • Ellemers 1999, evaluates group self-catergoisation, Ellemers, N., Kortekaas, P., & Ouwerkerk, J. (1999). Self-categorisation, commitment to the group and group self-esteem as related but distinct aspects of social identity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 29(2–3), 371–389. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-0992(199903/05)29:2/3

Recent Articles 

  • Solansky, S. T. (2011). Team identification: A determining factor of performance. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 26(3), 247–258. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941111112677
    • Provides empirical evidence that team identification is linked to team performance.
  • Delia, E. B., & James, J. D. (2018). The meaning of team in team identification. Sport Management Review, 21(4), 416–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2017.09.002
    • Team idenfitication is dependent on macro and minor factors such as environment and the past.
  • Han, G. (Helen), & Harms, P. D. (2010). Team identification, trust and conflict: A mediation model. International Journal of Conflict Management, 21(1), 20–43. https://doi.org/10.1108/10444061011016614
    • Examines the relationship between trust in peers whether it mediates team identification and team conflict.