Cheng, Shuoxin; Nguyen, Helena; Donald, James; Wang, Karyn

There has been a gradual move in the literature beyond the traditional dominant focus on individual voice to team/group voice, introducing a compelling dimension that integrates voice behaviors with complex team dynamics. One of the major challenges in the team voice literature is that studies on team voice are scattered in terms of a range of different team contexts, definitions, contents, methodologies, and directions of voice. Currently, there is also no synthesized knowledge on the predictors and outcomes of team voice which impends knowledge advancement in this area of research. In this study, we integrate theoretical perspectives on team voice (Frazier & Bowler, 2015; Walumbwa, Morrison, & Christensen, 2012; Session, Nahrgang, Newton, & Chamberlin, 2020) and social information processing (SIP) (Salancik & Pfeffer, 1978) to understand the role of the team’s social context (e.g., leader-related factors and team climate) as critical team input factors that influence team voice and the team voice as an emergent team process that mediates the relationship between team inputs and team outcomes. Our meta-analysis included 40 studies. The findings reveal that leadership style, leader-follower relationships, and team climate positively influence team voice, which in turn is positively associated with team performance, innovation, and viability. Additionally, our analysis highlights the mediating role of team voice in the connection between leader-related factors and team performance. Furthermore, the moderating effect of the source of rating on the relationship between team voice and team outcomes was also identified. Our research contributes to voice literature by building upon the SIP theory, extending existing voice meta-analyses to the team level. Moreover, we offer a deeper understanding of the nature and mechanisms of team voice, highlighting promising directions for future research.

At the conclusion of this event, attendees will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of team voice within organizational contexts. This includes its various definitions, contents (e.g., promotive team voice and prohibitive team voice), methodologies (e.g., additive composition approach and team referent shift approach), sources of rating (e.g., team member rated and team leader rated), and directions (e.g., upward voice and horizontal voice). Participants will also gain insights into the crucial antecedents of team voice, such as leadership style, leader-follower relation, and team climate, and understand how these factors collectively influence the emergence and effectiveness of team voice. Furthermore, attendees will explore the significant consequences of team voice, including its impact on team performance, innovation, and viability.