The role of group personality for small groups involved in complex tasks: A field study utilizing computer based business simulation and the Singer Loomis Inventory Profile

This research explores the relationship between the personality of small work groups and the task execution of that group. To mimic the type of decisions and tasks undertaken by middle managers in the real world, a complex computer based business simulation was employed. Assessing the group personality was undertaken with the aid of the Singer Loomis Inventory Profile (S-LIP), an instrument based on the work of Carl Jung (Jung, 1971).; Western business organizations are making increasing use of small work teams to undertake tasks where there is no definitive solution. Further while, previous research has clearly delineated the importance of the individuals intellect in the importance of small work teams, it has had mixed results when evaluating the relative effect of "softer" elements such as personality. The paucity of research on the role of group personality when that group is undertaking tasks that require the management of ambiguity, combined with the increasing use of group decision making vehicles, motivated my research.; The study demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between elements of personality that dealt with the extrovert and execution of certain tasks. Groups that were strong in assessing "how am I impacting the world" (an extrovert function) with respect to their perceiving and judging in the simulation, produced superior results in certain areas of the game, i.e., stock price, market share and asset turnover. A link was also established between the way a group develops, as measured by the delta in scores between the first and second administration of the S-LIP, and team performance on the previously mentioned game results.; This research demonstrates that personality has to be considered in formulating groups. It also reinforces the notion that encouraging the group to develop in certain personality traits will increase its effectiveness.