Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:
Diverse teams are a focal point in the APMG Change Management Foundation, particularly in the context of team effectiveness during change initiatives. Let’s break down each statement with extensive detail:
•Statement 1: "Provide greater creativity" – This is true and strongly supported by the APMG framework. Diversity in teams—whether in terms of culture, experience, gender, or skills—brings a variety of perspectives that fuel innovative thinking. For example, a team designing a new customer service process might include members from sales, IT, and HR, each contributing unique ideas that a homogenous group might overlook. Research cited in change management literature consistently shows that diverse teams outperform similar teams in creativity and problem-solving due to this multiplicity of viewpoints. The framework emphasizes that this strength is particularly valuable in change contexts, where novel solutions are often required to address complex challenges.
•Statement 2: "Reach consensus sooner than teams of 'similars'" – This is false. While diverse teams excel in creativity, they often face challenges in decision-making speed. The APMG materials explain that differing perspectives can lead to healthy debate but also require more time to align and reach agreement. For instance, a team of 'similars' (e.g., all engineers) might quickly agree on a technical solution due to shared assumptions, whereas a diverse team might debate trade-offs between technical feasibility, cost, and user experience, delaying consensus. This trade-off is acknowledged as a potential downside of diversity, though the quality of decisions typically improves.
Given this analysis, only Statement 1 is true. The answer is A because the framework prioritizes creativity as a proven benefit of diversity, while explicitly noting that quicker consensus is not a characteristic of diverse teams compared to homogenous ones.
[Reference: APMG Change Management Foundation, Chapter 6 – People and Change, Team Diversity section., ________________________________________]