The evolution of work team research since Hawthorne

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Management Science
• Sociology

Background:

• The study of work group effectiveness has a rich history, tracing back to the Hawthorne studies.
• Three distinct schools of thought emerged around the time of the Hawthorne studies, influencing teamwork research.
• The evolution of these perspectives highlights a shift towards an integrated view of teamwork.

Observation:

• Work group research has experienced disciplinary ebbs and flows over the past 25 years.
• Diverse scholars from various institutions are actively contributing to the growing body of literature.
• The popular Input-Process-Outcome framework has driven progress but also presents limitations.

Findings:

• Significant scholarly insights and practical advancements have been achieved in understanding teamwork.
• The Input-Process-Outcome model, while beneficial, may now be hindering further development.
• Future progress hinges on novel theories, methodologies, and tools for dynamic team properties.

Implications:

• Sophisticated conceptions of team task environments are crucial for future research.
• Viewing teams as entities within multilevel environments will be essential for advancing the field.
• Developing new models to capture dynamic team properties is key to future breakthroughs.