Investigating voice in action teams : a critical review

Krenz, Hanna L.; Burtscher, Michael J.

doi:10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20610

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Investigating voice in action teams : a critical review
Authors:	Krenz, Hanna L. Burtscher, Michael J.
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9 10.21256/zhaw-20610
Published in:	Cognition, Technology & Work
Volume(Issue):	23
Issue:	3
Page(s):	605
Pages to:	624
Issue Date:	2020
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Springer
ISSN:	1435-5558 1435-5566
Language:	English
Subjects:	Voice; Action team; Speaking up; Team communication; High-reliability organization
Subject (DDC):	302: Social interaction 658.4: Executive Management
Abstract:	Team communication is considered a key factor for team performance. Importantly, voicing concerns and suggestions regarding work-related topics—also termed speaking up—represents an essential part of team communication. Particularly in action teams in high-reliability organizations such as healthcare, military, or aviation, voice is crucial for error prevention. Although research on voice has become more important recently, there are inconsistencies in the literature. This includes methodological issues, such as how voice should be measured in different team contexts, and conceptual issues, such as uncertainty regarding the role of the voice recipient. We tried to address these issues of voice research in action teams in the current literature review. We identified 26 quantitative empirical studies that measured voice as a distinct construct. Results showed that only two-thirds of the articles provided a definition for voice. Voice was assessed via behavioral observation or via self-report. Behavioral observation includes two main approaches (i.e., event-focused and language-focused) that are methodologically consistent. In contrast, studies using self-reports showed significant methodological inconsistencies regarding measurement instruments (i.e., self-constructed single items versus validated scales). The contents of instruments that assessed voice via self-report varied considerably. The recipient of voice was poorly operationalized (i.e., discrepancy between definitions and measurements). In sum, our findings provide a comprehensive overview of how voice is treated in action teams. There seems to be no common understanding of what constitutes voice in action teams, which is associated with several conceptual as well as methodological issues. This suggests that a stronger consensus is needed to improve validity and comparability of research findings.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/20610
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	Applied Psychology
Organisational Unit:	Psychological Institute (PI)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Angewandte Psychologie

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Krenz, H. L., & Burtscher, M. J. (2020). Investigating voice in action teams : a critical review. Cognition, Technology & Work, 23(3), 605–624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9

Krenz, H.L. and Burtscher, M.J. (2020) ‘Investigating voice in action teams : a critical review’, Cognition, Technology & Work, 23(3), pp. 605–624. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9.

H. L. Krenz and M. J. Burtscher, “Investigating voice in action teams : a critical review,” Cognition, Technology & Work, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 605–624, 2020, doi: 10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9.

KRENZ, Hanna L. und Michael J. BURTSCHER, 2020. Investigating voice in action teams : a critical review. Cognition, Technology & Work. 2020. Bd. 23, Nr. 3, S. 605–624. DOI 10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9

Krenz, Hanna L., and Michael J. Burtscher. 2020. “Investigating Voice in Action Teams : A Critical Review.” Cognition, Technology & Work 23 (3): 605–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9.

Krenz, Hanna L., and Michael J. Burtscher. “Investigating Voice in Action Teams : A Critical Review.” Cognition, Technology & Work, vol. 23, no. 3, 2020, pp. 605–24, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-020-00646-9.