ABSTRACT
Our purpose in this chapter is to consider social identity issues in multiteam systems (MTSs). This is a theoretically interesting and practically important topic for a host of reasons. First, individuals in MTSs have multiple memberships, that is, multiple groups to which they belong. For instance, individuals working in an MTS belong to their component team as well as the larger multiteam system. Each individual belongs to at least one organization, and he or she may belong to a specific functional and/or professional unit as well. In addition, MTSs are often composed of teams from several organizations. Although each of these social entities (team, organization, or MTS) may be trying to achieve the same overarching goal, it may also have competing distal goals, thus, perhaps, putting these multiple identities in tension. Second, shifting identities may be experienced in MTSs. That is, at different times individuals may enact different identities and as such may make decisions based on different values or goals.
