Final answer:
The success of global teams is largely credited to effective communication, diversity, and equitable contribution among team members. Diversity training and good leadership are important for reducing conflicts and improving collaboration. Gender-balanced teams have been shown to perform better, indicating the positive impact of diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Researchers suggest that many of the successes of global teams can be attributed to effective communication, equitable contribution, and diversity within the team. While teams can often mask underperforming members and display inefficient decision-making, they can also benefit from the diverse skill sets and improve member interactions. The study by Hoogendoorn, Oosterbeek, & van Praag (2013) supports the idea that gender-balanced teams tend to perform better than those dominated by a single gender, although the exact mechanisms of improved performance (be it interpersonal relationships, learning, or skills mixes) remain to be clearly defined.
To create productive global teams, organizations focus on building trust through good communication, identifying the right team members, and having effective negotiation skills to advance collaborative projects and manage disputes. Teams need to foster open, forthcoming, and transparent interactions, and leaders must be engaged at all levels for equity and effectiveness.
Diversity training is another key factor that contributes to the success of global teams, as it can help reduce prejudices and improve collaboration by making team members aware of cultural differences. Pettigrew and Tropp's meta-analysis found that contact between diverse groups under the right conditions can significantly reduce intergroup prejudice, further amplifying the benefits of diversity within teams.