Diversity and Research Performance in University Engineering Laboratories: A Comparative Case Study from Japan

This study investigates how information elaboration among culturally diverse members affects research performance in Japanese university engineering laboratories—settings shaped by unique organizational norms and high-context cultures amid globalization. Based on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews, we found that strong performance can occur even without internal information elaboration. While conventional models view within-group elaboration as the main mechanism linking diversity to performance, our findings suggest the need for an extended model that incorporates external networks. In this alternative path, individuals enhance team outcomes by acquiring and integrating knowledge from outside the group. The study also examines how cultural context shapes elaboration processes. As most diversity research stems from low-context cultures, where explicit communication aids elaboration, we argue that high-context cultures like Japan may follow different dynamics. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding communication styles shaped by cultural context when assessing how diversity influences performance.