Do shared mental models support proactive problem-solving? Research on shared cognition suggests that shared mental models aid team performance by improving coordination between team members’ actions. However, these models can also lead to groupthink, potentially diminishing team members’ proactive problem-solving behaviors. Based on social identity theory, this study examines how shared mental models influence proactive problem-solving at the individual and team levels. We propose that shared mental models about work tasks and team dynamics are crucial for promoting proactive problem-solving behaviors and coordinating team efforts. To test our theory, we conducted multilevel path analyses with survey data from 266 individuals across 48 teams in 13 Italian manufacturing companies. Our results indicate that the degree to which individuals align their task- and team-related mental models impacts both their tendency to proactively solve problems and their ability to coordinate team problem-solving. We also find that the adoption of proactive problem-solving behaviors and team effort coordination are linked to enhanced team performance.

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释放团队绩效：共享心智模型如何推动主动解决问题

共享心智模型是否支持主动解决问题？对共享认知的研究表明，共享心智模型通过改善团队成员行为之间的协调来提高团队绩效。然而，这些模型也可能导致群体思维，可能会削弱团队成员主动解决问题的行为。基于社会认同理论，本研究探讨了共享心理模型如何影响个人和团队层面的主动解决问题的能力。我们认为，关于工作任务和团队动力的共享心理模型对于促进主动解决问题的行为和协调团队的努力至关重要。为了检验我们的理论，我们对 13 家意大利制造公司 48 个团队的 266 名个人的调查数据进行了多层次路径分析。我们的结果表明，个人与任务和团队相关的心智模型的协调程度会影响他们主动解决问题的倾向以及协调团队解决问题的能力。我们还发现，采用主动解决问题的行为和团队努力协调与提高团队绩效有关。