Document Type
Book Chapter
Department
Claremont Graduate University
Publication Date
2011
Disciplines
Christianity | Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Missions and World Christianity | Multicultural Psychology | Nonprofit Administration and Management | Organizational Behavior and Theory | Practical Theology | Social Psychology
Abstract
This study presents an overview of the results of empirical studies concerning diversity in work teams. Although these studies have most often been carried out in secular contexts, they support perspectives of human nature that are consistent with the biblical themes found associated with the Tower of Babel (the Similarity/Attraction Perspective) and Paul's metaphor of the Body of Christ and spiritual gifts (the Information/Decision Making Perspective). Key concepts are explained, including the measurement of diversity and team performance, task and relationship diversity, faultlines, cultural versus non-cultural diversity, and status. When the results of the various diversity studies are combined, it appears that diversity in itself has little effect on team performance. However, under certain conditions, diversity can be very detrimental or very beneficial to team performance. These various conditions are examined in light of situations that missionary teams are likely to encounter.
Recommended Citation
Dunaetz, David R., "Understanding the Effects of Diversity in Mission from a Social Science Perspective" (2011). CGU Faculty Publications and Research. 1013.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_fac_pub/1013
Included in
Christianity Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Nonprofit Administration and Management Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, Practical Theology Commons, Social Psychology Commons
