Age diversity, group organisational citizenship behaviour, and group performance: Exploring the moderating role of charismatic leadership and participation in decision-making

This study examines the effect of age diversity on group organisational citizenship behaviour (GOCB) and group performance in 99 work-based teams of a Korean bank. Previous research on the relationship between work group diversity and group outcomes has produced inconsistent results. Based on the categorisation-elaboration model, the study finds that both high and low levels of group diversity limit GOCB and group performance, whereas intermediate group diversity enhances it, producing relationships that can be represented by an inverted U-shaped curve. The curvilinear relationships between age diversity and GOCB and between age diversity and group performance are moderated by participation in decision-making. Charismatic leadership also moderates the relationship between age diversity and group performance, but no moderation effect was found for charismatic leadership in the relationship between age diversity and GOCB. The authors discuss the implications of these results for future research and practice.