Final answer:
Diversity in teams refers to having team members with different backgrounds and characteristics. It can lead to both challenges and benefits, including improved communication and increased innovation. Gender diversity has been shown to have a positive impact on team performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of teams, diversity refers to the presence of different backgrounds, perspectives, and characteristics among team members. This can include differences in gender, race, ethnicity, age, education, and skills.
Diversity in teams has both challenges and benefits. On one hand, it can lead to communication and interpersonal-relationship problems. On the other hand, it can bring in a variety of skills and experiences, fostering innovation and creativity in problem-solving.
Research has shown that gender diversity in teams can positively impact performance. For example, a study found that teams with a balanced gender mix performed better in terms of sales and profits compared to teams dominated by a single gender.