Team Creativity and Innovation

Publisher Summary Empirical work on the effect of team cognition on team creativity and innovation is particularly sparse. While research on individual cognitive processes that lead to creativity and innovation is much more prevalent, interest in team cognition is more recent. Several important themes emerge from the research reported here. First, much of the work on team cognitive processes is focused on social cognition. Second, the various dimensions of team cognitive processes are interrelated. Third, while no research directly assessed the role of time on these cognitive processes, time may play an important part. The cognitive processes associated with creative problem solving, such as problem construction, idea generation, and idea evaluation and selection, can be viewed as occurring in a natural progression. Fourth, team cognitive processes can also influence, be influenced by, and interact with team social processes. Finally, team cognitive processes can mediate or moderate the relationship between team composition and team creativity and innovation.