Multilevel Analysis of the Effects of Experiential and Observational Learning on Team Performance

In spite of competing in an increasingly large number of tournaments, do e-Sports players have the ability to learn and improve on a continuous basis? This question is deeply connected with experiential learning theory because players could acquire experience through repetitive participation with diminishing marginal gains. Observational learning serves as a complementary learning mechanism, allowing players to utilize external sources of knowledge (or others) to accelerate their learning process. This study hence advances a dynamic and integrated research model that scrutinizes peer-and rival-based observational learning as moderators of the influences exerted by experiential learning on incremental absorptive capability and team performance. Analyzing data collected from 78,645 teams and 36,422 players involved in e-Sports games, we revealed that peer-and rival-based observational learning steepen the inverted U-shaped relationship between experiential learning and players' incremental absorptive capability. In addition, peer-based observational learning flattens the U-shaped relationship between experiential learning and team performance, whereas rival-based observational learning steepens the U-shaped relationship between experiential learning and team performance. It is also found that a player's incremental absorptive capability enhances team performance.