TEAM COHESION AND PROJECT SUCCESS: TESTING ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT AS A MEDIATOR AND TEAM DIVERSITY AS A MODERATOR IN EDUCATION PROJECTS

Abstract

This research examines the impact of team cohesion on project success, exploring the moderating role of team diversity and the mediating role of organizational support. In project-based environments, effective teamwork is critical to achieving successful outcomes. However, the mechanisms through which team cohesion influences project success, particularly in the context of diverse teams and organizational support, remain underexplored. Using a deductive approach and quantitative research design, this research collect data through structured surveys from 208 team members from industries such as IT, healthcare, and construction. The study aims to test hypotheses regarding the direct relationship between team cohesion and project success, as well as the moderating effect of team diversity and the mediating effect of organizational support. Data will be analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to test the hypothesized relationships and to evaluate these relationships. Results showed a strong direct effect of cohesion on success (β = .58, p < .001). POS was positively related to both cohesion and success but did not significantly mediate the relationship (indirect effect CI includes zero). A significant interaction suggested team diversity may amplify cohesion’s impact on success, though full simple slope analysis is needed. Findings highlight cohesion’s dominant role and the contextual importance of diversity.