Will Leader Critical Thinking Trigger Team Creativity? A Three-way Interactive Model

Abstract

Abstract: With the increasing status of innovation-driven development strategy and the prevalence of teamwork, team creativity has attracted more and more attention from scholars. The current study explores the influence of leader critical thinking on team creativity from the cognitive perspective. We examine the effectiveness of leader critical thinking on team creativity with 82 R&D teams from a mobile communication company as the sample. Drawing on MIP-G, the study finds that leader critical thinking is positively related to team creativity, in which team information elaboration plays a mediating role. In addition, time pressure and task complexity moderate the relationship between leader critical thinking and team information elaboration, in such a way that time pressure attenuates the relationship, while task complexity strengthens the relationship. In addition, leader critical thinking, time pressure and task complexity have a three-way interactive effect on team information elaboration, in such a way that the relationship between leader critical thinking and team information elaboration is the strongest when time pressure is low and task complexity is high. At last, we discuss the theoretical implications and practical suggestions.

Key words: critical thinking, team creativity, MIP-G

Jiang Jing, Dong Yanan, Wu Xin, Tu Xingyong. Will Leader Critical Thinking Trigger Team Creativity? A Three-way Interactive Model[J]. Management Review, 2024, 36(8): 185-199.

References

[1] Van Knippenberg D. Team Innovation[J]. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 2017,4(1):211-233
[2] Harvey S., Kou C. Y. Collective Engagement in Creative Tasks the Role of Evaluation in the Creative Process in Groups[J]. Administrative Science Quarterly, 2013,58(3):346-386
[3] Zhou J., Hoever I. J. Research on Workplace Creativity:A Review and Redirection[J]. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology & Organizational Behavior, 2014,1(1):333-359
[4] Amabile T. A. A Mode of Creativity and Innovation in Organization[J]. Research in Organization Behavior, 1988,10(1):123-167
[5] Tierney P. Leadership and Employee Creativity[A]. In Zhou J., Shalley C. E. Handbook of Organizational Creativity[C]. New York, NY:Erlbaum, 2008
[6] Eisenbeiss S. A., Van Knippenberg D., Boerner S. Transformational Leadership and Team Innovation:Integrating Team Climate Principles[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2008,93(6):1438-1446
[7] 石冠峰,牛宇霖,刘朝辉. 多层次导向的变革型领导与多层面创造力:知识分享与观点采择的跨层中介作用[J]. 管理评论, 2020,32(10):217-228 Shi G. F., Niu Y. L., Liu Z. H. Dual-focused Transformational Leadership and Multi-level Creativity:The Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing and Perspective Taking[J]. Management Review, 2020,32(10):217-228
[8] 彭伟,马越,陈奎庆. 辱虐型领导对团队创造力的影响机制研究:一个有调节的中介模型[J]. 管理评论, 2020,32(11):208-219 Peng W., Ma Y., Chen K. Q. Study on the Effect Mechanism of Abusive Supervision on Team Creativity:A Moderated Mediation Model[J]. Management Review, 2020,32(11):208-219
[9] 卫武,王怡宇,赵鹤,等. 多元时间观情境下团队时间领导对团队创造力的影响[J]. 管理评论, 2021,33(4):92-101 Wei W., Wang Y. Y., Zhao H., et al. The Influence of Team Temporal Leadership on Team Creativity in the Context of Team Polychronicity[J]. Management Review, 2021,33(4):92-101
[10] Li Y., Fu F., Sun J. M., et al. Leader-Member Exchange Differentiation and Team Creativity:An Investigation of Nonlinearity[J]. Human Relations, 2016,69(5):1121-1138
[11] 陈超,刘新梅. 领导-领导交换对团队创造力的影响机理研究[J]. 管理学报, 2019,16(2):193-201 Chen C., Liu X. M. Research of the Influence Mechanism of Leader-Leader Exchange on Team Creativity[J]. Chinese Journal of Management, 2019,16(2):193-201
[12] Madrid H. P., Totterdell P., Niven K., et al. Leader Affective Presence and Innovation in Teams[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2016,101(5):673-686
[13] Hu J., Erdogan B., Jiang K., et al. Leader Humility and Team Creativity:The Role of Team Information Sharing, Psychological Safety, and Power Distance[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2018,103(3):313-323
[14] 李铭泽,叶慧莉,张光磊. 自恋型领导对团队创造力形成过程的多视角研究[J]. 心理科学进展, 2020,28(9):1437-1453 Li M. Z., Ye H. L., Zhang G. L. The Influence Mechanism of Narcissistic Leadership on the Formation Process of Team Creativity:A Multi-perspective Study[J]. Advances in Psychological Science, 2020,28(9):1437-1453
[15] 李召敏,赵曙明. 老好人"能当好团队领导吗?——团队领导宜人性与团队创造力的关系[J]. 外国经济与管理, 2018, 40(12):109-124 Li Z. M., Zhao S. M. Can the "Good Man" be a Good Team Leader? A Research on the Relationship between Leaders' Agreeableness and Team Creativity[J]. Foreign Economics & Management, 2018,40(12):109-124
[16] Dragoni L., Oh I. S., Vankatwyk P., et al. Developing Executive Leaders:The Relative Contribution of Cognitive Ability, Personality, and the Accumulation of Work Experience in Predicting Strategic Thinking Competency[J]. Personnel Psychology, 2011,64(4):829-864
[17] Mumford T. V., Campion M. A., Morgeson F. P. The Leadership Skills Strataplex:Leadership Skill Requirements across Organizational Levels[J]. The Leadership Quarterly, 2007,18(2):154-166
[18] 江静,杨百寅. 换位思考、任务反思与团队创造力:领导批判性思维的调节作用[J]. 南开管理评论, 2016,19(6):27-35 Jiang J., Yang B. Y. Perspective Taking, Task Reflexivity and Team Creativity:The Moderating Role of Leaders' Critical Thinking[J]. Nankai Business Review, 2016,19(6):27-35
[19] Facione P. A. Critical Thinking:A Statement of Expert Consensus for Purposes of Educational Assessment and Instruction. Research Findings and Recommendations[M]. Newark, DE:American Philosophical Association, 1990
[20] Lovelace K. J., Eggers F., Dyck L. R. I Do and I Understand:Assessing the Utility of Web-based Management Simulations to Develop Critical Thinking Skills[J]. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 2016,15(1):100-121
[21] 刘义. 大学生批判性思维研究:概念,历史与实践[D]. 华中科技大学博士学位论文, 2010 Liu Y. Research on Critical Thinking of College Students:Concept, History and Practice[D]. Doctoral Dissertation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2010
[22] Paul R., Elder L. Critical Thinking. Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life[M]. Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice Hall, 2002
[23] 江静,杨百寅. 善于质疑辨析就会有高创造力吗:中国情境下的领导-成员交换的弱化作用[J]. 南开管理评论, 2014,19(2):117-128 Jiang J., Yang B. Y. Critical Thinking, Creative Self-efficacy and Employee Creativity:Weakening Effect of Leader-Member Exchange in Chinese Context[J]. Nankai Business Review, 2014,19(2):117-128
[24] 江静,董雅楠,杨百寅,等. 工作绩效的提升需要批判性思维? 一个被调节的中介模型检验[J]. 科学学与科学技术管理, 2019,40(4):137-149 Jiang J., Dong Y. N., Yang B. Y., et al. Does Critical Thinking Matter for Job Performance-Test of a Moderated Mediation Model[J]. Science of Science and Management of S.& T., 2019,40(4):137-149
[25] 屠兴勇,何欣,郭娟梅. 批判性思维对员工创新行为的影响——一个有调节的中介效应模型[J]. 科学学与科学技术管理, 2015,36(10):169-180 Tu X. Y., He X., Guo J. M. Effects of Critical Thinking on Employee Innovation Behavior:Test of a Moderated Mediator Model[J]. Science of Science and Management of S.& T., 2015,36(10):169-180
[26] Jiang J., Gao A., Yang B. Employees' Critical Thinking, Leaders' Inspirational Motivation, and Voice Behavior[J]. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 2018,17(1):33-41
[27] De Dreu C. K., Nijstad B. A., Van Knippenberg D. Motivated Information Processing in Group Judgment and Decision Making[J]. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2008,12(1):22-49
[28] Nijstad B. A., De Dreu C. K. Motivated Information Processing in Organizational Teams:Progress, Puzzles, And Prospects[J]. Research in Organizational Behavior, 2012,32:87-111
[29] Bechtoldt M. N., De Dreu C. K. W., Nijstad B. A., et al. Motivated Information Processing, Social Tuning, and Group Creativity[J]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2010,99(4):622-637
[30] LePine J. A., Podsakoff N. P., LePine M. A. A Meta-analytic Test of the Challenge Stressor-Hindrance Stressor Framework:An Explanation for Inconsistent Relationships among Stressors and Performance[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2005,48(5):764-775
[31] Zhang X., Zhou J., Kwan H. K. Configuring Challenge and Hindrance Contexts for Introversion and Creativity:Joint Effects of Task Complexity and Guanxi Management[J]. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2017,143:54-68
[32] Brown T. M., Miller C. E. Communication Networks in Task-performing Groups:Effects of Task Complexity, Time Pressure, and Interpersonal Dominance[J]. Small Group Research, 2000,31(2):131-157
[33] Lin Y. H., Chen C. F. Passengers' Shopping Motivations and Commercial Activities at Airports:The Moderating Effects of Time Pressure and Impulse Buying Tendency[J]. Tourism Management, 2013,36:426-434
[34] Danner-Schröder A., Ostermann S. M. Towards a Processual Understanding of Task Complexity:Constructing Task Complexity in Practice[J]. Organization Studies, 2020,43(3):437-463
[35] De Dreu C. K. W., Nijstad B. A., Bechtoldt M. N., et al. Group Creativity and Innovation:A Motivated Information Processing Perspective[J]. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 2011,5(1):81-89
[36] Facione P. A., Facione N. C., Giancarlo C. A. Professional Judgement and the Disposition toward Critical Thinking[M]. Millbrae, CA:California Academic Press, 1997
[37] Facione P. A. Critical Thinking:What It Is and Why It Counts[M]. Millbrae, CA:Measured Reasons, 2011
[38] Kaiser R. B., Hogan R., Craig S. B. Leadership and the Fate of Organizations[J]. American Psychologist, 2008,63(2):96-110
[39] Hirak R., Peng A. C., Carmeli A., et al. Linking Leader Inclusiveness to Work Unit Performance:The Importance of Psychological Safety and Learning from Failures[J]. The Leadership Quarterly, 2012,23(1):107-117
[40] Owens B. P., Hekman D. R. How does Leader Humility Influence Team Performance? Exploring The Mechanisms of Contagion and Collective Promotion Focus[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2016,59(3):1088-1111
[41] Ennis R. H. A Logical Basis for Measuring Critical Thinking Skills[J]. Educational Leadership, 1985,43(2):44-48
[42] Facione P. A., Facione N. C. CCTDI:A Disposition Inventory[M]. Millbrae, CA:California Academic Press, 1992
[43] Facione P. A., Facione N. C., Giancarlo C. A. Professional Judgment and the Disposition toward Critical Thinking[M]. Millbrae, CA:California Academic Press, 1997
[44] Fiedler F. E., Garcia J. E. New Approaches to Effective Leadership:Cognitive Resources and Organizational Performance[M]. New York:John Wiley & Sons, 1987
[45] Judge T. A., Colbert A. E., Ilies R. Intelligence and Leadership:A Quantitative Review and Test of Theoretical Propositions[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2004,89(3):542-552
[46] Breugst N., Preller R., Patzelt H., et al. Information Reliability and Team Reflection as Contingencies of the Relationship between Information Elaboration and Team Decision Quality[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2018,39(10):1314-1329
[47] Van Knippenberg D., De Dreu C. K. W., Homan A. C. Work Group Diversity and Group Performance:An Integrative Model and Research Agenda[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2004,89(6):1008-1022
[48] Brown V. R., Paulus P. B. Making Group Brainstorming More Effective:Recommendations from an Associative Memory Perspective[J]. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2002,11(6):208-212
[49] Stasser G., Birchmeier Z. Group Creativity and Collective Choice[A]. In Paulus P. B., Nijstad B. A. (Eds.), Group Creativity:Innovation through Collaboration[C]. New York:Oxford University Press, 2003
[50] Litchfield R. C. Brainstorming Reconsidered:A Goal-based View[J]. Academy of Management Review, 2008,33(3):649-668
[51] Simonton D. K. Scientific Creativity as Constrained Stochastic Behavior:The Integration of Product, Person, and Process Perspectives[J]. Psychological Bulletin, 2003,129(4):475-494
[52] Parke M. R., Seo M. G., Hu X., et al. The Creative and Cross-functional Benefits of Wearing Hearts on Sleeves:Authentic Affect Climate, Information Elaboration, and Team Creativity[J]. Organization Science, 2022,33(2):600-623
[53] Andrews J., Smith D. C. In Search of The Marketing Imagination:Factors Affecting the Creativity of Marketing Programs for Mature Products[J]. Journal of Marketing Research, 1996,33(2):174-187
[54] Argote L., Turner M. E., Fichman M. To Centralize or Not to Centralize:The Effects of Uncertainty and Threat on Group Structure and Performance[J]. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 1989,43(1):58-74
[55] Madjar N., Oldham G. R., Pratt M. G. There's No Place Like Home? The Contributions of Work and Nonwork Creativity Support to Employees' Creative Performance[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2002,45(4):757-767
[56] Crawford E. R., LePine J. A., Rich B. L. Linking Job Demands and Resources to Employee Engagement and Burnout:A Theoretical Extension and Meta-analytic Test[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2010,95(5):834-848
[57] Fiedler F. E. The Contribution of Cognitive Resources and Leader Behavior to Organizational Performance[J]. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1986,16(6):532-548
[58] Fiedler F. E. The Effective Utilization of Intellectual Abilities and Job-relevant Knowledge in Group Performance:Cognitive Resource Theory and an Agenda for the Future[J]. Applied Psychology, 1989,38(3):289-304
[59] Kozlowski S. W., Hults B. M. Joint Moderation of the Relation between Task Complexity and Job Performance for Engineers[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1986,71(2):196-202
[60] Pepinsky P. N., Pepinsky H. B., Pavlik W. B. The Effects of Task Complexity and Time Pressure upon Team Productivity[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1960,44(1):34-38
[61] Soukup T., Lamb B. W., Shah N. J., et al. Relationships between Communication, Time Pressure, Workload, Task Complexity, Logistical Issues and Group Composition in Transdisciplinary Teams:A Prospective Observational Study across 822 Cancer Cases[J]. Frontiers in Communication, 2020,5:583294
[62] Timmerman T. A. Missing Persons in the Study of Groups[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2005,26(1):21-36
[63] Brislin R. W. The Wording and Translation of Research Instruments[A]. In Lonner W. J., Berry J. W. (Eds.), Field Methods in Cross-cultural Research[C]. Beverly Hills, CA:Sage, 1986
[64] Wong C. S., Peng K. Z., Shi J., et al. Differences between Odd Number and Even Number Response Formats:Evidence from Mainland Chinese Respondents[J]. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 2011,28(2):379-399
[65] Watson G., Glaser E. M. Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal[M]. San Antonio, TX:Psychological Corporation, 1980
[66] Carter A. G., Creedy D. K., Sidebotham M. Evaluation of Tools Used to Measure Critical Thinking Development in Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate Students:A Systematic Review[J]. Nurse Education Today, 2015,35(7):864-874
[67] Hinkin T. R. A Brief Tutorial on the Development of Measures for Use in Survey Questionnaires[J]. Organizational Research Methods, 1998,1(1):104-121
[68] Watson G., Glaser E. M. Watson-Glaser TM II Critical Thinking Appraisal[M]//Technical Manual and User's Guide. Minneapolis, MN:NCS Pearson, 2010
[69] 刘葳. 审辩式思维教育具有的现实意义[J]. 内蒙古教育, 2014,(23):13-14 Liu W. Realistic Significance of the Education of Dialectical Thinking[J]. Inner Mongolia Education, 2014,(23):13-14
[70] Sagiv L., Arieli S., Goldenberg J., et al. Structure and Freedom in Creativity:The Interplay between Externally Imposed Structure and Personal Cognitive Style[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2010,31(8):1086-1110
[71] Grant A. M., Berry J. W. The Necessity of Others Is the Mother of Invention:Intrinsic and Prosocial Motivations, Perspective Taking, and Creativity[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2011,54(1):73-96
[72] Zhang X., Bartol K. M. Linking Empowering Leadership and Employee Creativity:The Influence of Psychological Empowerment, Intrinsic Motivation, and Creative Process Engagement[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2010,53(1):107-128
[73] Campbell D. T., Fiske D. W. Convergent and Discriminant Validation by the Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix[J]. Psychological Bulletin, 1959,56(2):81-105
[74] Kearney E., Gebert D. Managing Diversity and Enhancing Team Outcomes:The Promise of Transformational Leadership[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2009,94(1):77-89
[75] Maruping L. M., Venkatesh V., Thatcher S. M., et al. Folding under Pressure or Rising to the Occasion? Perceived Time Pressure and the Moderating Role of Team Temporal Leadership[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2015,58(5):1313-1333
[76] Zacher H., Frese M. Maintaining a Focus on Opportunities at Work:The Interplay between Age, Job Complexity, and the Use of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation Strategies[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2011,32(2):291-318
[77] De Dreu C. K., West M. A. Minority Dissent and Team Innovation:The Importance of Participation in Decision Making[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2001,86(6):1191-1201
[78] James L. R., Demaree R. G., Wolf, G. Estimating Within-group Interrater Reliability with and without Response Bias[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1984,69(1):85-98
[79] Bliese P. D. Within-group Agreement, Non-independence, and Reliability:Implications for Data Aggregation and Analysis[A]. In Klein K. J., Kozlowski S. W. J. Multilevel Theory, Research, and Methods in Organizations:Foundations, Extensions, and New Directions[C]. San Fransisco:Jossey-Bass, 2000
[80] Muthén L. K., Muthén B. O. Mplus User's Guide Seventh Edition[M]. Los Angeles, CA:Muthén & Muthén, 2015
[81] Valls V., González-Romá V., Tomás I. Linking Educational Diversity and Team Performance:Team Communication Quality and Innovation Team Climate Matter[J]. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 2016,89(4):751-771
[82] Williams J., MacKinnon D. P. Resampling and Distribution of the Product Methods for Testing Indirect Effects in Complex Models[J]. Structural Equation Modeling:A Multidisciplinary Journal, 2008,15(1):23-51
[83] Harman H. H. Modern Factor Analysis[M]. Chicago, CA:University of Chicago Press, 1976
[84] Eichhorn B. R. Common Method Variance Techniques[M]. Cleveland, OH:SAS Institute Inc, 2014
[85] Aiken L. S., West S. G. Multiple Regression:Testing and Interpreting Interactions[M]. Newbury Park, CA:Sage, 1991
[86] Van Kleef G. A., De Dreu C. K. W., Manstead A. S. R. The Interpersonal Effects of Emotions in Negotiations:A Motivated Information Processing Approach[J]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2004,87(4):510-528
[87] Van Knippenberg D., Giessner S. R., Sleebos E., et al. A Motivated Information Processing Perspective on the Antecedents of Empowering Leadership[J]. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2021,51(2):79-89
[88] 屠兴勇,刘雷洁,彭娅娅,等. 批判创造思维如何影响根本性创新行为?——被中介的调节效应模型[J]. 管理评论, 2021,33(8):78-89 Tu X. Y., Liu L. J., Peng Y. Y., et al. How Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking Influence Radical Innovation Behavior? A Mediated Moderation Model[J]. Management Review, 2021,33(8):78-89
[89] Schippers M. C., Den Hartog D. N., Koopman P. L., et al. The Role of Transformational Leadership in Enhancing Team Reflexivity[J]. Human Relations, 2008,61(11):1593-1616
[90] Paul R., Elder L. Critical Thinking:The Nature of Critical and Creative Thought[J]. Journal of Developmental Education, 2006, 30(2):34-35
[91] Halpern D. F. Teaching Critical Thinking for Transfer across Domains:Disposition, Skills, Structure Training, and Metacognitive Monitoring[J]. American Psychologist, 1998,53(4):449-455
[92] Ricketts J. C., Rudd R. D. Critical Thinking Skills of Selected Youth Leaders:The Efficacy of Critical Thinking Dispositions, Leadership, and Academic Performance[J]. Journal of Agricultural Education, 2005,46(1):32-43
[93] Van Ginkel W. P., Van Knippenberg D. Knowledge about the Distribution of Information and Group Decision Making:When and Why does It Work?[J]. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2009,108(2):218-229
[94] Resick C. J., Murase T., Randall K. R, et al. Information Elaboration and Team Performance:Examining the Psychological Origins and Environmental Contingencies[J]. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2014,124(2):165-176
[95] Bass B. M. From Transactional to Transformational Leadership:Learning to Share the Vision[J]. Organizational Dynamics, 1990,18(3):19-31