Exploring Zimbardo's Time Perspective as a Factor in Belbin’s Team Role Assessment

Purpose: This paper proposes adding the Zimbardo Time Perspective as a variable in Belbin’s Team Role Test, extensively used as team development tool. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were collected from 12 teams comprising 132 undergraduate students who participated in a management game. All students performed the Belbin Team-Role Self-Perception Inventory and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) prior to the activity. Students were grouped together just on the basis of their team-role profile and time focuse. Teams were specifically formed to investigate the influence of the role composition on the team’s effectiveness. Findings: Some studies have shown that teams demonstrating a composition consistent with Belbin's team role theory do not always exhibit high operational efficiency. I argue that by including the variable of Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory in the Belbin test, managers will have another tool for identifying those individuals with teamwork skills who are best suited to ensure team effectiveness. Practical Implications: Paper discusses how Zimbardo Individual Time Perspective complements the Belbin Team Role test in the team formation process for its better performance, making a contribution to the team development practice. Originality/value: This study is the first to examine the utility of Zimbardo Individual Time Perspective as a relevant complementary characteristic in the team formation, making a contribution to the organizational behavior research literature.