Search

Numerous contemporary work teams encompass both virtuality, marked by geographically dispersed members relying on technology for communication, and fluidity, involving the rapid assembly of members with limited prior experience for immediate, time-sensitive tasks. Instances include global virtual teams, military command and control teams, and similar contexts in which rapidly assembled distributed teams are prevalent. However, research on fluid virtual teams remains scarce. In this article, we expound upon the concept of team fluidity, explain how fluid virtual contexts influence team dynamics, and explore the implications for effectively supporting fluid virtual teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid teams are teams that are rapidly assembled from across disciplines or areas of expertise to address a near-term problem. They are typically composed of individuals who have no prior familiarity with one another, who as a team must begin work immediately, and who disband at the completion of the task. Prior research has noted the challenges posed by this unique type of team context. To date, fluid teams have been understudied, yet their relevance and application in the modern workplace is expanding. This Perspective article presents a concise overview of critical research gaps and opportunities to support selection, training, and workplace design for fluid teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial titled "Fluid teams" published in Frontiers in Psychology. The editorial discusses the concept of fluid teams, which are rapidly assembled teams that address immediate problems and disband after completing the task. The article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of fluid teams and explores their application in various contexts such as healthcare, innovation teams, and the military. It also presents research topics and gaps in understanding fluid team performance. The editorial provides a comprehensive overview of the topic and offers practical recommendations based on the research presented. [Extracted from the article]

The concept of roles is ubiquitous in the social sciences, and a number of scholars have examined the operation of roles in task teams. In fact, this research has resulted in a seemingly unlimited number of roles that have been described as relevant to team performance. In this study, we attempt to integrate this research by deriving a model that describes three primary behavioral dimensions that underlie team role behavior: (a) dominance, (b) sociability, and (c) task orientation. Based on this model, we conduct a cluster analysis of the 154 team roles described in previous research. We identify 13 primary team role clusters, and discuss the implications of this approach for gaining further insight into team role structure and performance. We believe this is one step toward speaking a common language in discussing team roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term teamwork has graced countless motivational posters and office walls. However, although teamwork is often easy to observe, it is somewhat more difficult to describe and yet more difficult to produce. At a broad level, teamwork is the process through which team members collaborate to achieve task goals. Teamwork refers to the activities through which team inputs translate into team outputs such as team effectiveness and satisfaction. In this article, we describe foundational research underlying current research on teamwork. We examine the evolution of team process models and outline primary teamwork dimensions. We discuss selection, training, and design approaches to enhancing teamwork, and note current applications of teamwork research in real-world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]