by Sarah Le-Fevre

Created on: November 18, 2009   Last Updated: November 19, 2009

Dr Robert Meredith Belbin developed his Team Roles as a result of research, carried out in the form of 'Business Games' at the Henley Management College in the 1970s. His 1981 book, 'Management Teams', identified eight team roles which he claimed make up a well balanced and effective team. These roles related to the management of team activities and how the group performed its work and were in addition to the work roles that members had within the team.

In 1988 Belbin amended his own work by altering some of the names of the roles to reflect changing attitudes in business and by adding a ninth role, the Specialist. In the following list, the original 1981 names are given in parentheses. The roles can be grouped under three broad categories, although it should be noted that this is only one possible grouping and others have been used. Belbin defined each role in terms of behaviour, strengths and allowable weaknesses. These are 'allowable' in the sense that they can be the price that the team pays for that role's strength.

Acting or Doing roles

Implementer (Company Worker)

Disciplined, reliable and efficient, the Implementer can take the team's ideas and decisions and determine how to make them work in practice. The Implementer's practical side can make them appear slow and ponderous to other team members.

Shaper

Challenging and dynamic, the Shaper thrives on pressure. This role is all about conquering obstacles and driving the progress of the team. They can sometimes be perceived as insensitive to the needs of others.

Completer Finisher

Perfectionist, conscientious and accurate, the Completer Finisher has an eye for detail and the drive to see a task through to completion. Their precision helps to ensure the quality of the final outcome for the team. They can find it difficult to trust other team members with responsibility and can be over anxious.

Thinking or Problem Solving roles

Plant

Creative, imaginative and unorthodox, the Plant is a problem solver and ideas person. They may find it hard to focus on details, which they see as unimportant compared with the generation of the original idea. Plants may also be poor communicators.

Monitor Evaluator

Objective, analytical and discerning, the Monitor Evaluator specialises in seeing the big picture and bringing impartiality to bear on the ideas of others. The Monitor Evaluator may lack the ability to inspire or motivate team members.

Specialist

Single-minded, self-reliant and knowledgeable,

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