Strategic core change, faultlines and team flux: insight from punctuated equilibrium model

Purpose Combining the punctuated equilibrium theory with the faultline theory, the purpose of this paper is to focus on member change of strategic core role holders in teams. Design/methodology/approach The authors test the model using data from 30 National Basketball Association teams covering 11 regular seasons, carrying out regression analyses. Findings This research illustrates how different types of job-related skills of core role holders that involved in member change might influence the team performance loss, and how team demographic faultlines would serve as a moderator. Practical implications This research demonstrates that punctuational change in a team is not always bad, flux in coordination and team performance loss could be avoided by staffing strategic core role based on specific job-related skill levels and manipulating team composition based on demographic attributes. Originality/value The research model initially provides an integrated perspective of member change, core role and faultline theory to explain the team process for punctuational change.