Shared leadership and team performance in health care: how intellectual capital and team learning intervene in this relationship

Purpose This study aims to examine the role of shared leadership (SL) practices in improving team performance (TP) in health-care producer organizations by mediating the roles of intellectual capital (IC) and team learning (TL). Design/methodology/approach Conceptual model was proposed using social learning theory and resource-based view theory. The structured questionnaire was administered to respondents of Pakistani health-care producer organizations using a cross-sectional approach. Data was collected from 23 team leaders and 203 team members from 23 different teams. PLS-structural equation modeling was applied to SmartPLS 3.2.9. Findings The findings revealed that SL and IC are positively associated with TP, while TL has no association with TP. Further, SL is positively associated with IC and TL. This study also found that IC significantly mediates between SL and TP. Still, no mediating role of TL between SL and TP was found. Practical implications The findings suggest health-care producer organizations adopt shared leader practices where team members are given a say in decision-making to boost their morale, leading to effective TP. Originality/value The conceptual model was created using social learning and resource-based view theories. This is an early attempt to examine the role of SL in health-care producer organizations.