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Team interdependence and turnover: evidence from the NFL

Justin L. Davis (Department of Management and MIS, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, USA)
Andy Fodor (Department of Finance, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA)
Michael E. Pfahl (Department of Sports Administration, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA)
Jason Stoner (Department of Management, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA)

American Journal of Business

ISSN: 1935-519X

Article publication date: 30 September 2014

806

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the interactive effect of turnover and task interdependence on performance in work teams. Based on pervious research, the authors contend that turnover will have a negative effect on team performance and this effect will be more pronounced as teams perform highly interdependent tasks.

Design/methodology/approach

Using longitudinal data from the National Football League (NFL), the authors empirically examine the effect of player turnover on NFL team performance (i.e. wins and losses in the subsequent year), and the difference in team performance based on the high/low task interdependence of the work team.

Findings

Findings suggest a negative impact of turnover on organizational performance, regardless of the interdependent nature of work team tasks. In addition, the negative influence of turnover is enhanced by the task interdependence within a team.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that examine task interdependence as a moderating variable of the turnover – team performance relationship. More specifically, by examining an industry with high team member turnover (i.e. The NFL), the findings from this study give practicing managers a guide as to which work teams managers should attempt to minimize turnover.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers, Dan McGowan and Maggie Davis for their insightful comments and recommendations.

Citation

L. Davis, J., Fodor, A., E. Pfahl, M. and Stoner, J. (2014), "Team interdependence and turnover: evidence from the NFL", American Journal of Business, Vol. 29 No. 3/4, pp. 276-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJB-02-2014-0009

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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