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Crossing boundaries : Identifying antecedents of intra- and inter team learning processes in the Dutch criminal justice system

Horst, M.L. ter (2016) Crossing boundaries : Identifying antecedents of intra- and inter team learning processes in the Dutch criminal justice system.

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Abstract:The conviction of a criminal act and the settlement of criminal cases requires an accurate and precise processing of work proceedings throughout the entire criminal justice system. Therefore it is important to avoid rework of criminal cases. Rework is the duplication of work because it does not meet the standards. The prevention of rework is essential to expedite the processing time of a criminal case and to keep the quality of the criminal justice system up to standard. Collaboration and interaction within teams (intra) and between teams (inter) are vital for the effectiveness of work proceedings and thus preventing rework. Team learning processes can stimulate such collaboration and interaction (Edmondson, 1999; Bresman, 2010). Therefore this research has investigated whether the intra and inter team learning processes within and between teams contributes to the self-rated team effectiveness of crime investigation teams of the National Police. In order to investigate how team learning processes can be improved antecedents of intra and inter team learning were investigated. The research has been conducted by means of an online survey among 301 Police officers derived from 49 crime investigation teams of the Dutch National Police. Participants of the research evaluated intra and inter team learning processes, team learning antecedents and team effectiveness in their own team. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and several multi-level models to adapt to the stratified structure of the data. The results of the study showed that intra as well as inter team learning processes were significant related to an improvement of effectiveness in teams. The absence of an interaction effect showed that both team learning processes have an independent relation to team effectiveness. In addition, antecedents of intra and inter team learning processes were identified, divided into intra team level factors, inter team level factors and organisational level factors. The results showed that intra team level factors (safety, potency and identity) were strongly related to intra team learning processes. While potency was the only factor related to inter team learning processes. These indicated that when team members feel free to speak up, feel confident about their performance and identify with their team, this will result an improvement of intra team learning processes in the team. While for inter team learning processes, mainly the feeling of confident in the work The conviction of a criminal act and the settlement of criminal cases requires an accurate and precise processing of work proceedings throughout the entire criminal justice system. Therefore it is important to avoid rework of criminal cases. Rework is the duplication of work because it does not meet the standards. The prevention of rework is essential to expedite the processing time of a criminal case and to keep the quality of the criminal justice system up to standard. Collaboration and interaction within teams (intra) and between teams (inter) are vital for the effectiveness of work proceedings and thus preventing rework. Team learning processes can stimulate such collaboration and interaction (Edmondson, 1999; Bresman, 2010). Therefore this research has investigated whether the intra and inter team learning processes within and between teams contributes to the self-rated team effectiveness of crime investigation teams of the National Police. In order to investigate how team learning processes can be improved antecedents of intra and inter team learning were investigated. The research has been conducted by means of an online survey among 301 Police officers derived from 49 crime investigation teams of the Dutch National Police. Participants of the research evaluated intra and inter team learning processes, team learning antecedents and team effectiveness in their own team. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and several multi-level models to adapt to the stratified structure of the data. The results of the study showed that intra as well as inter team learning processes were significant related to an improvement of effectiveness in teams. The absence of an interaction effect showed that both team learning processes have an independent relation to team effectiveness. In addition, antecedents of intra and inter team learning processes were identified, divided into intra team level factors, inter team level factors and organisational level factors. The results showed that intra team level factors (safety, potency and identity) were strongly related to intra team learning processes. While potency was the only factor related to inter team learning processes. These indicated that when team members feel free to speak up, feel confident about their performance and identify with their team, this will result an improvement of intra team learning processes in the team. While for inter team learning processes, mainly the feeling of confident in the work proceedings proved to be. With regard to the inter team level factors, goal interdependency was the only factor related to intra team learning. While boundary spanning leadership and goal interdependency were related to inter team learning processes. Goal interdependency was notably more strongly related to inter team learning processes, compared to boundary spanning leadership. Indicating, not particular interaction but a feeling of unity and a shared overarching vision of the team is important for inter team learning processes of teams. Finally, the organisational factors learning culture and identity were positively related to intra team learning processes while the learning culture was the only factor related to inter team learning processes. Organisational hierarchy was neither related to intra nor to inter team learning processes. In sum, the results of the study showed that intra as well as inter team learning processes can contribute to the effectiveness of teams in the criminal justice system. The study contributes to the current literature by comparing intra and inter team learning processes, their relation to team effectiveness and their antecedents into a single study. In addition, the study is of applied value for work processes in the criminal justice system. The results of the study should be used to stimulate intra and inter team learning in the teams, in order to improve the effectiveness of teams and reduce the amount of rework in the criminal justice system.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:81 education, teaching
Programme:Educational Science and Technology MSc (60023)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/69757
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