Team member functional background and involvement in management teams: Direct effects and the moderating role of power centralization

This article examines the relationship between a team member's functional background and two forms of intrateam involvement: centrality in a team's workflow and involvement in team decision making. It is argued that a functional background that provides valued expertise and one that is similar to the functional backgrounds of other team members will be associated with both forms of involvement; however, power centralization in a team will be a critical moderator of the decision involvement relationship. Tests of these hypotheses in a sample of business unit management teams provided strong support.