Models of teamwork: ideal or not? A critical study of theoretical team models
Abstract
Purpose
There is a tendency in team research to employ concepts of stepwise models, reaching from the primitive to the excellent, to suggest that a higher level of evolution is better than the basic and simple. This tendency includes typologies of teams. This article aims to question the relevance of this view.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected in three steps. In the first step, articles and books analyzing teams and teamwork from stepwise analytical models were collected. In the second step the collected data were classified into different themes. Each stepwise model was classified into one essential denomination. This classification resulted in eight themes. In the third step each theme was analyzed, which led to the fusion of some of the themes.
Findings
The conclusion is that a synchronous, complementary or mature team is not necessarily optimal. Contrary to this, a differentiated, sequential or multi team approach can be optimal for some purposes. Team research needs to establish a more open, inductive and critical attitude than at present.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the need to observe and use team theories in a balanced and critical way.
Keywords
Citation
Berlin, J.M., Carlström, E.D. and Sandberg, H.S. (2012), "Models of teamwork: ideal or not? A critical study of theoretical team models", Team Performance Management, Vol. 18 No. 5/6, pp. 328-340. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527591211251096
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited