A Quantitative and Empirical Study of the Dimensions of Teamness

Abstract

Teams are pervasive in workplaces as high-level goals are often beyond the capabilities of individuals. Despite this team pervasiveness, the dimensions along which teams can be characterized remain opaque. While prior work introduced the multidimensional concept of “teamness,” this work aims to identify its underlying dimensions. In this study, quantitative methodologies (content analysis and factor analysis) based on empirical data were used to identify the underlying dimensions of teamness from academic and non-academic perspectives. Our analysis uncovered ten distinct dimensions in the academic and non-academic domains. Five dimensions were the same in both domains (synergy, goal orientation, heterogeneity, hierarchy, and individualism), but key differences exist in the other dimensions. These findings provide an evidence-based and quantitative framework for researchers to characterize teams and enable more advanced teaming research. Future research will further explore the differences in teamness dimensions between the two domains.