Moderating Effects of Goal Acceptance on the Relationship between Group Cohesiveness and Productivity

Despite the fact that several researchers have suggested that goal acceptance moderates the relationship between group cohesiveness and group productivity, only 1 study (C. N. Greene, 1989) has directly tested this proposition, and virtually no study has examined whether leaders who foster group goal acceptance actually do enhance the relationship between group cohesiveness and group productivity. Two studies were conducted to address these issues. In Study 1, goal acceptance was found to moderate the relationship between group cohesiveness and the quantity of performance of 40 machine crews in a paper mill located in the northeastern United States. In Study 2, the extent to which leaders fostered the acceptance of group goals was found to moderate the relationships between group cohesiveness and quantitative measures of group productivity in 71 insurance agency units located throughout the United States