Group composition and employee creative behaviour in a Korean electronics company: Distinct effects of relational demography and group diversity

Abstract

Work group composition is one of the key variables that influence individual behaviour in a group setting. This study investigates the effect of individual-level dissimilarities (relational demography) as well as group-level membership heterogeneity (group diversity) on creative behaviour of individual employees. Multi-level analyses of data from 188 work units of a Korean electronics company showed that relational demography in terms of gender and hierarchical status and group diversity in hierarchical status and performance level were negatively related to employee creative behaviour. In contrast, relational demography in terms of age and performance level and group diversity in functional background increased creative behaviour. The results indicate that demographic composition variables have different individual- and cross-level effects on individual employees` creative behaviour. This study demonstrates the need for a multi-level approach to the study of organizational demography.