UET3 & UET4

Raymond ‘Meredith’ Belbin 1926 - Present

Team Roles

BELBIN’S ROLES

In 1970, a nine year study was initiated by Meredith Belbin, Bill Hartson, Jeanne Fisher and Roger Mottram into team behaviour within a business setting. Through psychometric testing and observed business games, executives were analysed to ascertain participation within a group setting. The data collected was used to form the original eight Team Roles, with the ninth added some years later.

The results of this study revealed that an effective team would comprise of a balanced mix of the identified roles. It was noted that the results waived in the teams that either has a missing role, or too many of the same role; for example if a team had too many Plant’s then there would tend to be creative conflicts.

Another outcome of this study was that intellect did not guarantee success; teams of lower intellectual status could achieve higher results if they were comprised of a balanced team. This evidenced the importance of having a team with a variety of skills and attributes, that could all contribute to a collective aim.

THOUGHT FOCUSSED

SPECIALIST

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PLANT

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ACTION FOCUSSED

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PEOPLE FOCUSSED

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CO-ORDINATOR

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It is stated; ’A person may and often does exhibit strong tendencies towards multiple roles.’ In small teams it is common for roles to be underdeveloped and/or missing, another team member may take up the slack by stepping into another role.

In tradition of our love of classification and labels, would we not need to assign another role for such a person? I propose the ‘Switcher’ is put into place for a person who has the required skillset to undertake any role to support the overall objectives of the team.

A TENTH ROLE?

SWITCHER

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Based upon this models origin and overall application since, can it really be used to foster stronger results within an educational setting?

I’ll make my argument clear by stating that I believe this model has a very limited scope within education, specifically for teachers/lecturers and even more so within a creative curriculum; this would apply to both the educators and learners alike.

I can see that forming a role analysis on a group of learners may reveal some pertinent data, which could support differentiation; yet its purpose is to form a diverse group, in which skills can be maximised to achieve results. If the learners are participating in group work, then it may be prudent to assign roles.

Without being too dismissive, I can not foresee an application of Belbin within my immediate working environment. YES, I am part of a team, yet we are all highly creative and singular in our lecturing activities; even being part of a ‘wider team’ of administrators, support staff etc. having a ‘Belbin Label’ would not be advantageous in achieving the results.

SUITABLE FOR EDUCATION?

Advantages

• Can be used to help identify a persons strengths and weaknesses, but only in a team dynamic.

• Strengthens the language, which can then be effectively applied to the team to better communicate ideas.

• Could potentially be used to develop staff appraisals, where allowable weakness could be examined.

Disadvantages

• The model is outdated, coupled with a narrow demographic that provided the original study.

• Aimed at identifying roles within a work setting only, not idea for educational or social interactions.

• Is not a psychometric tool, it can not be used to measure an individuals distinct personality.

Bibliography

100+ Management Models: How to Understand and Apply the World's Most Powerful Business Tools Coebergh, P. and Trompenaars, F. (2014). 100+ Management Models: How to Understand and Apply the World's Most Powerful

Business Tools. Infinite Ideas.

MEREDITH BELBIN: 'THE EU IS A MINISCULE BUREAUCRACY' Managementtoday.co.uk. (2018). Meredith Belbin: 'The EU is a miniscule bureaucracy'.

Available at: https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/meredith-belbin-the-eu-miniscule-bureaucracy/leadership-lessons/article/1399109 [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018].

Group and Team Roles | SkillsYouNeedGroup and Team Roles | SkillsYouNeed.

Available at: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/group-roles.html [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].

BELBIN: TEAM ROLESBusinessballs.com. (2018). Belbin: Team Roles.

Available at: https://www.businessballs.com/leading-teams/team-roles-meredith-belbin-4244/ [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].

BELBIN | GREAT TEAMS START WITH BELBINBelbin.com. (2018). Belbin | Great teams start with Belbin.

Available at: http://www.belbin.com/about/belbin-team-roles/ [Accessed 15 Jan. 2018].