Teams are a hallmark of modern societies. They are most evident in organizations, especially work organizations. The effective performance of teams is closely linked to the accomplishment of goals for both the members involved and the organizations in which they operate. Thus, the nature of team performance and the issues involved in the assessment of team performance are central to an organization's success.

Approaches to team performance assessment are quite varied, and they should be. Both the appropriate definition of team performance and the best way to measure (assess) it will depend on a variety of factors. Thus, those interested in assessing a team should become fairly knowledgeable about the context involved. This entry examines team performance assessment from a context-dependent, or contingent, perspective.