Team Composition

Entrepreneurs are critically concerned with innovation and creativity, and particular attention must be given to risk-taking propensity and tolerance for ambiguity. Team creation is the art of matching individual competencies and characteristics to the demands on the team. These demands include goals, tasks, and roles that draw upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) of team members. The proper mix of individual competencies—interrelated sets of KSAs—must be achieved in order to create synergy and value through member behaviors. Effectiveness is determined by the quality and quantity of productive output, through personal satisfaction, and with individual and team growth. For new ventures, this requires selecting members who have a strong need to achieve, a high energy level, an internal locus of control, self-confidence, and a results ...