Blending conceptual framing from the CEO-TMT interface literature with upper echelons decision-making theory, we develop a model of the role of CEO narcissism and narcissism in the upper echelons. We argue that narcissistic CEOs tend to have higher narcissism in their Top Management Teams (N-TMTs). In turn, TMTs characterized by narcissism can benefit from positive aspects of narcissism while avoiding its pitfalls; especially when strategic decision speed is slower and behavioral integration is higher. In a field study of 104 TMTs from publicly-listed South Korean firms, we find an association between narcissistic CEOs and N-TMT, and that N-TMT mediates in the indirect, conditional relationship between CEO narcissism and sales growth. We also invoke threshold theory in anticipation that outcomes associated with N-TMT may be nonlinear. In support of our threshold hypothesis, we find a curvilinear relationship between N-TMT and sales growth; and this curvilinear relationship is stronger for a small number of TMTs scoring high on N-TMT (> +2SD), where TMTs’ activities are defined by deliberative integration. The pattern of results we report provides evidence for the importance of accounting for narcissism in the upper echelons as a predictor of sales growth, and key contextual moderators of this relationship.

将 CEO-TMT 界面文献中的概念框架与高层决策理论相结合，我们开发了一个 CEO 自恋和自恋在高层中的作用模型。我们认为自恋的 CEO 在他们的高层管理团队 (N-TMT) 中往往有更高的自恋。反过来，以自恋为特征的 TMT 可以从自恋的积极方面受益，同时避免其陷阱；特别是当战略决策速度较慢而行为整合度较高时。在对来自公开上市的韩国公司的 104 名 TMT 的实地研究中，我们发现自恋 CEO 与 N-TMT 之间存在关联，并且 N-TMT 在 CEO 自恋与销售增长之间的间接条件关系中发挥作用。我们还援引阈值理论，预计与 N-TMT 相关的结果可能是非线性的。为了支持我们的阈值假设，我们发现 N-TMT 与销售增长之间存在曲线关系；并且这种曲线关系对于少数在 N-TMT 上得分高（> +2SD）的 TMT 更强，其中 TMT 的活动由审慎整合定义。 我们报告的结果模式提供了证据，证明了将高层自恋作为销售增长预测指标的重要性，以及这种关系的关键背景调节因素。