The Impact of Teams on the Climate for Diversity in Government: The FAA Experience
Abstract
This study examined the effect of teamwork on diversity-related perceptions of the FAA workforce. Recent research suggests that one means of improving the diversity climate of an organization is through the implementation of teams. To assess this conjecture in the FAA, three measures of diversity climate perceptions were examined: employee perceptions of the agency's success in elimination of hostile work environment behaviors, success of the Model Work Environment plan, and personal support for the model work environment vision. Teamwork and organization were examined, controlling for minority status, gender, age, supervisory status, agency and job tenure, and work setting. The results suggest that working as a member of an occupational work team is related to improved perceptions of the diversity climate, but organizational differences do exist. Overall, it appears that the size of the relationship between teamwork and diversity climate is influenced by the degree to which the survey measures focused on specific behaviors versus higher level judgements. Specifically, behaviorally focused measures showed a stronger relationship with teamwork than did measures of support for the agency's diversity climate vision.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA382809
Entities
People
- Katherine C. Naff
- Richard C. Thompson
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration