Unlocking team performance: How shared mental models drive proactive problem-solving
基于社会认同理论，研究共享心智模型如何影响个体和团队层面的主动解决问题行为，通过对48个意大利制造团队的调查发现，任务和团队相关的心智模型一致性促进主动解决问题和协调，进而提升团队绩效。
Do shared mental models support proactive problem-solving? Research on shared cognition suggests that shared mental models aid team performance by improving coordination between team members’ actions. However, these models can also lead to groupthink, potentially diminishing team members’ proactive problem-solving behaviors. Based on social identity theory, this study examines how shared mental models influence proactive problem-solving at the individual and team levels. We propose that shared mental models about work tasks and team dynamics are crucial for promoting proactive problem-solving behaviors and coordinating team efforts. To test our theory, we conducted multilevel path analyses with survey data from 266 individuals across 48 teams in 13 Italian manufacturing companies. Our results indicate that the degree to which individuals align their task- and team-related mental models impacts both their tendency to proactively solve problems and their ability to coordinate team problem-solving. We also find that the adoption of proactive problem-solving behaviors and team effort coordination are linked to enhanced team performance.