Summary
The article introduces a hypothetical case of teamwork. In it person A has 50
per cent, person B has 30 per cent and person C has 20 per cent of the
expertise required for solving the problem of the team. By means of a
thought experiment four modes of teamwork are compared:
(1) By way of a person’s dictate the team can achieve a 20-50 per cent
solution, which is at best equal to the expertise of the best qualified
member of the team.
(2) By way of compromising an average solution of 33 per cent is achieved,
which is below the expertise of the best qualified member of the team.
(3) By way of integrative teamwork a 100 per cent solution can be achieved
by pooling the members’ expertise.
(4) By way of synergistic teamwork a solution exceeding 100 per cent can
be achieved as the team creates a new solution, which no member of the
team possessed before the session of the team (see Table I).