This thesis aims to examine that informal learning and social capital have an effect on team effectiveness. By examining the effect of the informal learning and social capital on team effectiveness, the object of the study is small group, 'team', whic...
This thesis aims to examine that informal learning and social capital have an effect on team effectiveness. By examining the effect of the informal learning and social capital on team effectiveness, the object of the study is small group, 'team', which is able to find the prompt and proper way to adapt in any circumstance based on the most appropriate knowledge.
Moreover, examining the objective similarity of knowledge between the team and individuals is valuable for the reason that knowledge is a key factor of team effectiveness and knowledge should be created and shared among team members. This could be an important variable in which the induce the degree of involvement on informal learning, the degree of establishment on social capital, the degree of awareness on team effectiveness.
There are two important questions about the impact of informal learning and social capital on team effectiveness: How do the characteristics of individual or team influence informal learning, social capital and team effectiveness? Is it possible to mediate informal learning and team effectiveness by social capital?
This thesis draws from data collected by a questionnaire-based survey. The questionnaire consisted of four parts - demographic questions, informal learning, social scale and team effectiveness. The sample was gained in D company, which conducted team-based systems. Within one month, from April 15 to May 10, 2008, the sample size was obtained. The response rate was 85.5%, 325 of 380 surveys. However, due to incomplete answers to questionnaire, 290 surveys provided data that could be included in the analysis, this number represented a valid rate of 76.3%.
Data analysis in the study were factor analysis, reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and regression analysis.
The result of analysis is as follows. First, While statistically insignificant effects were found for a number of team, the length of service and function of team, the higher education and tenure, the higher the level of informal learning, social capital and team effectiveness, Second, the relationship between informal learning and team effectiveness are partly mediated by social capital.
This thesis also suggests some ideas to the applicability of the result of the study. First, workers age, educated, staff level are positively related to informal learning, social capital, team effectiveness. First of all, according to a worker's age, education, the staff levels, we can be aware of different results of the level of informal learning, social capital and team effectiveness. Therefore, it is necessary for us to make networks which we can share and create various information in a team. As one of the way to adopt and promote high-fliers in a company, acceptance of mentoring and coaching system would be effective one, especially through liberal communication between the staff. Second, through social capital - its networks, trust and shared values, the members in a group can create team culture made available for the benefit of individuals and their organizations.
Taken as a whole this thesis explores the impact of informal learning and social capital on team effectiveness. Since this thesis focuses variable "social capital" and its advantage to explore the relationship with team effectiveness, there is limit to consider the potential value of other variables to illustrate team effectiveness. Rather, this limit will be start to study the development of measurement to assess informal learning and to show negative aspect of social capital to create and manage teams in a group.