2020
Chapter
The Oxford Handbook of Group and Organizational Learning

Team Reflexivity

By: Michaéla Schippers, Amy C. Edmondson and Michael A. West

Format:Print

Abstract

Many teams face the problem of process loss, or suboptimal functioning, with sometimes serious consequences, such as medical errors. Team reflexivity—a deliberate process of discussing team goals, processes, or outcomes—can aid in optimizing team performance. In the current chapter, we build on a conceptualization of teams as information-processing systems and highlight reflexivity as a critical information processing activity. Specifically, we describe the relationship of team reflexivity to team and organizational learning and emphasize the dynamic, self-regulatory process aspect of team reflexivity as well as the role of goal setting. Furthermore, we describe the antecedents and outcomes of team reflexivity, the role of motivated information processing, the important role of team reflexivity in problem identification and problem solving, and how team reflexivity can be stimulated. Finally, we discuss the implications of our review and identify avenues for future research.

Keywords

Team Reflexivity; Groups and Teams; Performance Improvement; Information; Goals and Objectives; Learning

Citation

Schippers, Michaéla, Amy C. Edmondson, and Michael A. West. "Team Reflexivity." In The Oxford Handbook of Group and Organizational Learning, edited by Linda Argote and John M. Levine. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2020.