An exploratory study on meta skills in software development teams: antecedent cooperation skills and personality for shared mental models

Abstract

Shared mental models (SMMs) provide an approach to improving team learning and performance. SMM means that team members share common expectations about the team processes, results, !and individual roles in achieving the team's objective. Our model of antecedents and consequences of SMMs demonstrates how cognitive capabilities contribute to effective software development teams. Higher scores on two meta-level cognitive skills (A-shaped skills and T-shaped skills) and a personality characteristic (agreeableness), which help teammates coordinate their skills and knowledge, enhance the development of an SMM and thereby enhance team performance. The results open new and important areas for research into both the meta-level cognitive skills and the agreeable characteristic required for team effectiveness. There is also promise for new approaches to team building.

Keywords:

• shared mental model
• T-shaped skill
• A-shaped skill
• agreeableness
• team effectiveness
• software teams

Acknowledgements

The Brain Korea 21 Project provided financial support for this research in 1999–2001 and in 2003–2004.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hee-Dong Yang

About the authors

Hee-Dong Yang is an associate professor in the College of Management at Ewha Womans University in Korea. He has a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Management of Information Systems. He previously was an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. His research interests include the synchronous IT for social network management, organizational impact of information technology, adoption of information technology, and team mental models. His papers have appeared in Information and Management, Decision Support Systems, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, International Journal of Human–Computer Studies, International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Journal of Information Technology Management, Human Relations, and he has been presented his work at many leading international conferences, including ICIS, HICSS, Academy of Management, and ASAC.

Hye-Ryun Kang

Hye-Ryun Kang is a professor in the College of Management at Ewha Womans University in Korea. She has a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Her research interests include performance of knowledge workers, shared mental model, and antecedents of team effectiveness. Her papers have been published in many top journals in Korea. She has been taking active roles in several professional activities including the Vice President of the Korean Association of Personnel Administration.

Robert M Mason

Robert M. Mason is Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the Information School at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has a Ph.D. in systems engineering from Georgia Tech and electrical engineering degrees from MIT. His research interests are in the strategic management of innovation and technology, cultural aspects of knowledge management, and learning. His publications have appeared in the Journal of Management Information Systems, Management Science, and the Journal of Global Information Management. He is a member of the Senior Editorial Board of Technovation and has served as president of the International Association of the Management of Technology.