Temporal leadership and team performance in Chinese logistics operations: The roles of shared temporal cognition, team learning behavior, and task interdependence

Drawing on the input–mediator–outcome–input framework, this study investigates how temporal leadership relates to logistics operations team performance through shared temporal cognition and team learning behavior, and when these relationships become stronger. Data were collected from 538 logistics practitioners using a four-wave, time-lagged survey design. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were employed to test the measurement and hypothesized models. The findings show that temporal leadership is positively associated with team performance. Significant indirect associations were observed through shared temporal cognition and team learning behavior, both independently and sequentially. Specifically, higher perceived temporal leadership was associated with higher shared temporal cognition, which was subsequently associated with higher levels of perceived team learning behavior and perceived team performance. Task interdependence moderated the association between temporal leadership and team performance, such that the positive association was stronger at average and high levels of task interdependence but was not significant at a low level. These findings are consistent with the proposed temporally ordered mechanism, although the observational design does not establish causal relationships.