Team faultlines and upward voice in India: The effects of communication and psychological safety

Abstract

While voice contributes to improved organizational functioning, employee ideas and opinions can be diverse and at cross-purposes. Despite voice pertinence, there is little scholarly work on how group composition influences members’ voice behavior. Drawing on the categorization-elaboration model (CEM) perspective of faultline theory and the value-in-diversity paradigm, we examine the effect of team diversity faultlines on members' upward voice. The research model is tested across two time-lagged studies in India. The results of study 1 reveal that gender diversity strengthens the positive influence of age diversity on team communication. Built on study 1, study 2 demonstrates that team communication mediates the link between team diversity faultlines and upward voice, with psychological safety as a boundary condition. We discuss the findings and implications for theory and practice.