The Role of Individual Differences in Dynamic Team Performance

Abstract

Teams often operate in dynamic task environments where the state of the world and the coordinative requirements for optimal performance change rapidly. To build effective teams, it is important to know what factors influence team performance. The present research investigates several factors that may influence team performance in dynamic environments. In this study, participants first completed a battery of cognitive and non-cognitive tests. Results of the tests were used to form three-person teams with varying levels of ability. Team performance was scored in 12 dynamic tasks. Individual differences in cognitive ability and personality characteristics were then used to predict team-level performance. Results indicate that two team member characteristics, cognitive ability and stress tolerance, are important to dynamic task performance, while other characteristics such as achievement motivation play roles in specific circumstances. Implications of these results are discussed