Examining the Influence of Group Size on R&D Team Performance via Partial Least Squares

Team size may affect the ability of teams to perform tasks. We use a research model to examine team performance in small-sized and large-sized R&D teams. In the model, knowledge sharing and group cohesiveness facilitate team performance. Trust promotes knowledge sharing. Transactive memory system (TMS) mediates the relationship between trust and knowledge sharing. The model is assessed using data from a sample of 245 members of 60 R&D teams and is analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) method and multi-group comparison analysis method. The results of this study indicate: (1) knowledge sharing influences team performance in large-sized teams, (2) trust influences knowledge sharing in small-sized and large-sized teams, (3) TMS mediated the relationship between trust and knowledge sharing in small-sized and large-sized teams, (4) group cohesiveness influences team performance in small-sized and large-sized teams, and (5) group cohesiveness influences team performance more strongly for small-sized teams than large-sized teams.