Teamwork, Cultural Patterns and Conflict in a Cooperative : A Longitudinal and Multilevel Approach

The aim of this research was to analyze how the implementation of a new teambased work system influenced the transformation of cultural values and its relation to conflict managing behavior in a collectivistic cooperative in the Basque Country (North of Spain). Data were collected from 243 employees forming 26 work teams at two times, one year apart. Vertical-horizontal types of individualism-collectivism cultural value orientations were taken as predictive variables. Because of the hierarchically-nested data a Multilevel Analysis approach was used. High levels of horizontal and vertical collectivism predicted cooperation, while horizontal and vertical individualism increased competitive behavior. After new work teams and teamwork processes had operated for a year a slight reduction in collectivist patterns occurred and a double process of cooperation and individualization was observed. Moreover, when cooperation and competition were taken as criterion variables significant interactions between cultural patterns were observed. Implications for within-culture organizational transformation through teamwork implementation are discussed