ERIC Number: EJ1359117
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0969-6474
EISSN: EISSN-1758-7905
Available Date: N/A
Fostering Egalitarianism for Team Learning in Professional Service Teams
Batt-Rawden, Victoria H.; Traavik, Laura E. M.
Learning Organization, v29 n6 p611-628 2022
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore what contributes to egalitarian teams and facilitates for team learning in professional service teams. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study, including 41 in-depth interviews (n = 18) of professional service team members and managers in one of Nordics largest professional service companies was conducted. Findings: This study reveals how acknowledgement of generational differences and humour can facilitate egalitarianism and psychological safety for members of professional service teams. This in turn relates to team learning processes and behaviours. Humour creates a "safe space" between team members representing different areas of the novice-expert continuum for idea generation and knowledge sharing. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the first to contribute with insight on experiences and expectations of humour as an enabling mechanism for egalitarianism and team learning in professional service teams. The findings provide professional service firms with valuable and tangible insights, which could serve as a basis for designing learning and training practices.
Descriptors: Teamwork, Generational Differences, Humor, Interpersonal Relationship, Foreign Countries, Cooperative Learning, Justice, Power Structure, Adults, Individual Differences, Value Judgment, Professional Personnel, Consultants, Administrators, Professional Development
Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Norway
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A