Input–Process–Output Model of Team Effectiveness

Substantial research has been conducted on the variables that influence team effectiveness, yielding several models of team functioning. Many of these models share the commonality of being grounded in an input–process–output (IPO) framework. Inputs are the conditions that exist prior to group activity, whereas processes are the interactions among group members. Outputs are the results of group activity that are valued by the team or the organization. The IPO model has historically been the dominant approach to understanding and explaining team performance and continues to exert a strong influence on group research today. The framework is based on classic systems theory, which states that the general structure of a system is as important in determining how effectively it will function as its individual components. Similarly, ...