Work Style
Individual Difference Theory and Research: Application to Multinational Coalition Teamwork
Megan M. Thompson
Defence Research and Development Canada Toronto, Canada Megan.Thompson@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
ABSTRACT
A guiding principle of the work of this panel on multinational coalitions is an acknowledgement of the multitude of factors that can affect teamwork under such challenging conditions. Individual differences in cognitive processing is one such factor that the panel has cited as relevant to effective operations of teams in general, and multinational teams, more specifically. The current talk will provide an overview of individual difference factors that could be investigated to facilitate adaptability in teamwork within multinational coalitions. I begin by briefly discussing individual differences in general and then specify several constructs that may play a role in teamwork. The talk will also review the extant experimental literature. The talk will conclude with my suggestions for future research concerning individual differences that might be relevant to adaptability in coalition teamwork.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
“Politically fragile in nature, [coalitions] develop out of necessity, sometimes uniting nations without a history of harmonious relations.” (1. Scales, 1998, p.4). Although often formed in response to some significant instigating event (2. Bechtold, 1995), coalitions have the most limited commonality and life spans of all international alliances. They enable the undertaking of missions that would overwhelm the resources of a single nation (3. Silkett, 1993) and, perhaps even more importantly, establish the international legitimacy of a mission (4. Forster, 2000). However, they often have “broad and often unclear mandates and are the result of hasty prior coordination …” (4. Forster, 2000, p. 56). Indeed, in many ways, coalitions might be seen as the ultimate adhoc team: the challenges to their effective development and maintenance are greater, the
Megan M. Thompson
Defence Research and Development Canada Toronto, Canada Megan.Thompson@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
ABSTRACT
A guiding principle of the work of this panel on multinational coalitions is an acknowledgement of the multitude of factors that can affect teamwork under such challenging conditions. Individual differences in cognitive processing is one such factor that the panel has cited as relevant to effective operations of teams in general, and multinational teams, more specifically. The current talk will provide an overview of individual difference factors that could be investigated to facilitate adaptability in teamwork within multinational coalitions. I begin by briefly discussing individual differences in general and then specify several constructs that may play a role in teamwork. The talk will also review the extant experimental literature. The talk will conclude with my suggestions for future research concerning individual differences that might be relevant to adaptability in coalition teamwork.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
“Politically fragile in nature, [coalitions] develop out of necessity, sometimes uniting nations without a history of harmonious relations.” (1. Scales, 1998, p.4). Although often formed in response to some significant instigating event (2. Bechtold, 1995), coalitions have the most limited commonality and life spans of all international alliances. They enable the undertaking of missions that would overwhelm the resources of a single nation (3. Silkett, 1993) and, perhaps even more importantly, establish the international legitimacy of a mission (4. Forster, 2000). However, they often have “broad and often unclear mandates and are the result of hasty prior coordination …” (4. Forster, 2000, p. 56). Indeed, in many ways, coalitions might be seen as the ultimate adhoc team: the challenges to their effective development and maintenance are greater, the