Functional team diversity in frontline service delivery: explaining teamwork attitudes among public service professionals

Abstract

Team diversity is key in public service delivery. Yet, teamwork in functionally diverse teams can be undermined by mutual scepticism among different professionals. This article examines the mechanisms explaining teamwork attitudes with two experiments. We theorize that public service professionals’ negativity towards working in functionally diverse teams arises because other team members are perceived as lacking warmth and competence. Our evidence from Danish public schools confirms that teachers prefer co-teacher teams over diverse teams but shows that this reflects a warmth, not competence, deficit. These findings advance research on professional collaboration and inform public managers facilitating teamwork across functional lines.

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