A Conceptual Framework for Demographic Diversity and Performance

Much research on the effects of diversity in group composition on group performance has been conducted. We review the previous research, find the enablers to make diverse group effective and propose a conceptual framework that explicates how groups can maximize the benefits of diversity and minimize the costs and finally improve the performance in demographically diverse settings. Our conceptual framework suggests that (1) flow of diverse knowledge is positively related to performance, (2) demographic diversity is not necessarily positively related to the flow of diverse knowledge, (3) stock of diverse knowledge is positively related to the flow of diverse knowledge when behavioral integration is high and (4) demographic diversity is positively related to behavioral integration, when there is a mechanism to facilitate behavioral integration.