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The impact of negative mood on team performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Peter J Jordan
Affiliation:
Griffith Business School, Department of Management, Griffith University, Brisbane QLD, Australia
Sandra A Lawrence
Affiliation:
Griffith Business School, Department of Management, Griffith University, Brisbane QLD, Australia
Ashlea C Troth
Affiliation:
Griffith Business School, Department of Management, Griffith University, Brisbane QLD, Australia

Abstract

Although organisations often implement team-based structures to improve performance, such restructuring does not automatically ameliorate poor performance. The study in this article explores the relationship between team members' negative mood and team processes (social cohesion, workload sharing, team conflict) to determine if negative mood has a detrimental effect on team performance via team processes. Two hundred and forty one participants completed surveys and were involved in an independently rated performance task that was completed over eight weeks. Negative mood was found to influence team processes and as a consequence, team performance. The results, however, were not uniformly negative. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2006

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