Antecedents and consequences of transactive memory systems: Constructive evidence from three studies

Abstract

In this paper, we used time-ordered data in three studies to test a novel model that examined (1) the roles of communication quantity and communication quality in TMS development, (2) how team identification served as an underlying social-psychological process mediating the effect of communication on TMS development, and (3) the mediating role of TMS through which team identification leads to team performance. Studies 1 and 2 collected data across three time-points from student project teams over a 12-week period, while Study 3 collected data across four time-points from thesis project teams over a 9-month period. Across the three studies, TMS was positively predicted by communication quality, although not by communication quantity. Furthermore, team identification mediated the relationship between communication quality and TMS development. Finally, there was some support that TMS mediated the relationship between team identification and team performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.