The benefit of theoretical provisions of R.M. Belbin team roles in organizing collective work

Abstract

The article analyses adaptation possibilities of theoretical provisions of R. M. Belbin Team roles in organizing group work. The author’s research shows that putting employees into teams according to widely applied practice, where preference is given to formal requirements (education, work experience, knowledge of foreign languages, etc.), does not always help the organization to achieve the pursued objectives. One of the most important reasons of it – not enough attention is given to natural characteristics of an individual to perform certain types of tasks. The author of the article, when investigating the priority to conduct profiles of people in various work situations interviewed nearly 2 thousand respondents in Lithuania, which helped to expose the prevailing team roles and their links with an individual’s gender. The results of the research confirmed usefulness of R. M. Belbin Team roles theory in the practical work of organizations.