An empirical examination of group emotional intelligence in public sector workgroups

Abstract

Purpose

Despite increased calls for incorporating emotional intelligence (EI) in workgroups and teams, there exists a need to develop empirical instruments that can measure group-level emotional intelligence (GEI), and assess its efficacy in predicting outcomes such as performance and learning ability. This paper aims to empirically demonstrate how GEI affects the performance and learning ability of public sector workgroups in city governments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Ghuman’s (2011) proposed theoretical model of GEI as a two-component system, an empirical instrument is created that measures GEI at the group level of analysis. Regression analyses are performed for 44 workgroups in the public sector organizations, with group performance and group learning ability as the dependent variables. Results show a significant positive relationship between GEI and the outcomes of group performance and group learning ability.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that a competent instrument has been developed for GEI, and that it can be used to measure the construct in workgroups and teams. The results also empirically demonstrate the importance of GEI in workgroups, by demonstrating that an increased GEI positively enhances the group’s performance and learning ability.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of this research is the creation and testing of an instrument that allows researchers in GEI to utilize this instrument for future studies concerning GEI.

Practical implications

Such findings show that GEI can be an added resource for workgroups to foster positive within-group relations. It can assist in enhancing group learning and group performance. The study also demonstrates that groups that develop a group emotional awareness, and that can manage within group emotional relationships, may become more productive, and more able to learn. These results can be utilized to bolster the arguments of fostering within group emotional socialization, helping nurture a positive group culture and forming a culture of group affect, i.e. a clear understanding of how to perceive and manage affect within the group.

Originality/value

The study builds on past theoretical understanding of GEI to create a model that showcases the effects of GEI on group outcomes such as group learning and group performance. It thereby fulfills a need for an empirical instrument that is able to measure GEI and utilize this instrument to ascertain the effect of GEI on group performance and group learning ability.

Citation

Ghuman, U. (2016), "An empirical examination of group emotional intelligence in public sector workgroups", Team Performance Management, Vol. 22 No. 1/2, pp. 51-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-02-2015-0010