Problems of Assessing Team Roles Balance -Team Design

Abstract

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this study is to design a model for assessing and measuring team roles balance and to test the model analyzing the relationship between team roles balance and team motivation. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 32 project management teams on POS DRU program, out of a population of 145 members. Team roles were identified applying BTRSPI. To assess team current level of motivation was used a tool proposed by Woodcoock and Francis (2008). Team roles balance was assessed with the developed model. Motivation indices of each team were tested against the team balance scores by using Spearman's rank test. Findings – A statistical relation between team roles balance and team motivation was found. Team roles balance provides an environment which encourages individuals to contribute and provides higher motivation. It is argued that authors do not use constructs according to Belbin's theory of team balance. Research limitations/implications – There is need for an improved construct, which is isomorphic with Belbin's notions of team balance. The relation between this construct and performance should also be tested. Practical implications – In literature the current team balance constructs are of limited use. As the various constructs give different assessments of balance and no strong suport was found for Belbin's team roles balance, these developed model should be used. Implications are suggested for more qualitative measures for designing balanced teams. Originality/value – Team design according to this construct has not been tested up to now with regard to team motivation. The study simplifies on the ambiguity of the concept of team balance. Paper type: Research paper.