Toward a theory of team resource mobilization: A systematic review and model of sustained agile team effectiveness

Abstract

The notion of resources is central to many theories in HRM and applied psychology. Prominent resource-based theories in HRM tend to focus on issues related to accessing resources at the firm-level (e.g., resource-based view of the firm) or the employee-level (e.g., job demands - resources theory). However, at the team-level, the critical issue is often a matter of resource mobilization rather than resource access. Previous research has discovered that a team's ability to use resources effectively is indicative of collective intelligence. Instead of explaining this ability with a latent collective intelligence factor, we argue that teams can develop this ability by using agile work practices (AWPs). Through a systematic review of the agile team literature, we describe how agile teams mobilize resources embedded in the internal and external environment to achieve sustained team effectiveness. Generalizing beyond the agile team context, we propose a model that introduces team-internal and team-external resource mobilization as unique predictors of sustained team effectiveness. We further propose that resource mobilization is strengthened by challenge demands (e.g., work complexity) and weakened by hindrance demands (e.g., role conflict). We hope our model of sustained team effectiveness inspires future research into how teams can perform effectively across multiple episodes, without this going at the cost of members' health and well-being.