The role of intragroup dynamics in nonprofit governance models: a systematic quantitative literature review

Abstract

Nonprofit governance models rarely incorporate board intragroup dynamics as a significant board factor that influences performance. However, intragroup dynamics such as cohesion and conflict have demonstrated a relationship with board performance suggesting that board intragroup dynamics play a larger role than previously thought. In order to better understand the relationship between intragroup dynamics and performance, a systematic quantitative literature review was conducted. Through an extensive search process and the application of a series of inclusion criteria, 43 papers were identified and reviewed. Three types of intragroup dynamics (cohesion, the board–CEO relationship, and boardroom climate) were shown to have a positive relationship with performance whereas the relationship between performance and two other intragroup dynamics (conflict and power patterns) was mixed. It was concluded that intragroup dynamics should be a central factor in board governance models. Using the findings of this review, directions for future research were identified.

Keywords:

• board of directors
• board–CEO relationship
• effectiveness
• climate
• cohesion

ORCID

Geoff Schoenberg http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2051-5904

Graham Cuskelly http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9352-1873

Christopher Auld http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7489-6730

Notes

¹Supplemental material, available online, includes the full EndNote library that contains the details of the 524 initially sourced papers, the 26 papers identified through the reference list mining exercise, and the 43 papers included in the review.

²The supplemental material also includes descriptive information of the papers included in the review such as the geographic locations of the research, research context, publication years, publication areas, and the research approach.

³The review identified 43 papers of which 5 were review papers. These review papers helped shape the paper but were not included in the analysis as they repeated the findings of other papers without providing new data. The following sections are based on 38 empirical papers.