I was shocked! Yes… Homogeneous teams, culturally wise, seem to be more efficient, unless, the management of the diversity is highly performant! But the graphic is quite self explanatory!

See the distribution over a sample of more than 10’000 teams:


The Abstract:

[…] We test the hypotheses with a meta-analysis of 108 empirical studies on processes and performance in 10,632 teams. Results suggest that cultural diversity leads to process losses through task conflict and decreased social integration, but to process gains through increased creativity and satisfaction. The effects are almost identical for both levels and types of cultural diversity. […]

The Conclusion:

Based on the results of a series of meta-analyses, we conclude that cultural diversity in teams can be both an asset and a liability. Whether the process losses associated with cultural diversity can be minimized and the process gains be realized will ultimately depend on the team’s ability to manage the process in an effective manner, as well as on the context within which the team operates. Future research endeavors should focus on the mechanisms through which cultural diversity affects team dynamics and performance, and on the conditions that help or hinder effective team performance.

Complete analysis is here.

(Professor: Günter K Stahl)