Mind the (identification) gap: Foci in multiteam systems and their impact on innovative work behaviours

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents a longitudinal exploration of identification with teams and multiteam systems (MTSs) in an organizational context that started using MTSs. Data were collected in five waves during the first 2 years in which the organization started the implementation of MTSs in order to aggregate teams in value streams as organizational units. The results show that there is a clear and distinct gap between team and MTS identification. This gap is greater in larger MTSs than smaller MTSs. This gap decreases in time mostly due to a rise in MTS identification in combination with a stable team identification across time. Additionally, our research showed that MTS identification is hindered when negative relations are present in the MTS. Finally, we show that identification with the team fosters innovative team performance and the identification with MTS moderates this positive association in a compensatory manner. The findings show important implications for the management of MTSs in modern organizations.