Toward a dynamic multilevel theory of team personality

Abstract

Scholars have used a variety of ways to examine personality at the team level, yet never has a dynamic, multilevel approach been taken to examine the structure of team personality, how it develops, and how and why it may influence team effectiveness. If the concept of personality at the team level is to be taken seriously, we argue that a consistent theoretical orientation is necessary to synthesize past findings and guide future research. To fill this need, we discuss the definition, function, structure, and emergence of team personality, culminating in the development of a dynamic multilevel model linking individual team member personalities to team personality. This model is the basis through which we describe the development, path dependence, and impact of team personality. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our model.