Implementation of Work Teams Across Cultures: Factors Influencing Team Effectiveness Organizations are increasingly introducing work teams as a means of improving efficiency and responsiveness. Several questions remain, however, as to how to best to manage such teams. For example, should direction for the team be provided externally, or should the teams themselves be allowed to define their own objectives and goals. In this research proposal, the PI notes that the benefits of greater or lesser external direction in terms of team performance will depend upon the motivational characteristics of the team and, for teams located in different cultures, by differences in values and cognitive processes across cultures.. This proposal outlines a three year research plan to examine the implications of differences in cultural values and cognitive processes regarding the appropriate level of external direction.
