Relational demography and perceptions of group conflict and performance: A field investigation

In recent years organizational scholars and practitioners have avidly pursued an in-depth understanding of demographic diversity and its consequences. This study contributes to such an understanding by examining how an individual's demographic distance from others in a work group shapes his or her perception of the group's conflict and performance. Data from 233 members of 42 blue-collar groups reveal that gender and tenure dissimilarity increase the perception of emotional conflict, indirectly reducing individual ratings of group productivity. These results suggest a process by which relational demography may indirectly affect members' confidence in their group.