History & Research

During a nine year period BELBIN researchers, whilst observing business simulations courses at Henley Management College, studied the behaviour of managers from all over the world. Candidates were given a battery of psychometric tests and put into teams of varying composition, while engaged in a complex management exercise. Their different core personality traits, intellectual styles and behaviours were assessed during these exercises. From this study a cluster of behaviours were identified which underlined the success or failure of them team. These nine behaviours became known as the BELBIN® 'Team Roles'.

Validity

• Dulewicz V, (1995) "A validation of BELBINS team roles from 16PF and OPQ using bosses' ratings of competence", Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, Vol 68, pp. 81-99.
• Fisher, S.G., Hunter, T.A. and Macrosson, W.D.K. (1998), "the structure of BELBIN's team roles", Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, Vol. 71, pp. 282-8.

BELBIN Team Roles is based on books authored by Meredith Belbin

• Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail (1981)
• Team Roles at Work (1993)
• The Coming Shape of Organization (1996)
• Changing the Way We Work (1997)
• Beyond the Team (2000)
• Managing without Power (2001(
• The Evolution of Human Behaviour (2006)
• The BELBIN guide to succeeding at work