Extending the Faultline Model to Geographically Dispersed Teams: How Colocated Subgroups can Impair Group Functioning

Abstract

We theorize that in geographically dispersed teams, members' geographic locations are likely to activate “faultlines” (hypothetical dividing lines that split a group into subgroups) that impair team functioning. In a study of 45 teams comprised of graduate students from 14 schools in ten countries, we found that geographic faultlines heightened conflict and reduced trust. These faultlines were stronger when a team was divided into two equally sized subgroups of colocated members and when these subgroups were homogeneous in nationality.