HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 26, 2014 – Dr. Tjai Nielsen, associate professor of management and director of the MBA program at High Point University, recently presented two papers on organizational teams and leadership at the Annual Academy of Management Conference, held in Philadelphia.
His research covered important topics for managers in the traditional workplace and anyone looking to build successful and cohesive teams.
Nielsen’s first paper, titled “Absorptive Capacity: Exploring the Implications of Team and Organizational Context,” focuses on organizational teams and how they play a central role in managing the many challenges of the modern working environment
Nielsen’s research found that internal coordination among team members, decision-making autonomy and organizational citizenship behavior all led to significant team success. This suggests that available resources must be understood, interpreted and applied in order to help teams perform effectively.
In his second paper, “Leader-Follower Congruence and Transformational Leadership: A Test Using Response Surface Modeling,” Nielsen explores how leadership is an inherently relational process. His research found a link between leader-follower personalities in the workplace, where higher levels of personality similarity between a leader and a follower led to significantly higher levels of performance.
Understanding the intricate and nuanced relationship between leaders and followers is critical to helping leaders and organizations achieve success, says Nielsen.
“Leadership and organizational teams are ubiquitous and essential in almost every company in the world,” says Nielsen. “Understanding the keys to their success and how this contributes to overall company performance, is critical for catalyzing sustained effectiveness.”
Nielsen’s research also translates into practical application in the classroom. By sharing the essence of these research efforts, his students have gained an increased understanding of teams and leadership – something that Nielsen hopes will contribute to their future success.
Both papers are currently being prepared for journal submission.