About Us
TMS Global, Igniting Human Potential at Work for 40 Years
40+ Years of Research | 2M+ Professionals | 190 Countries
TMS Global is a behavioural science company that helps organisations build high-performing teams. Our evidence-based tools and frameworks have been used by over two million professionals across 190 countries, making us one of the most widely applied team development systems in the world.
The Question That Changed Everything
In the early 1980s, Professors Charles Margerison and Dick McCann were studying what made some teams consistently outperform others. They interviewed hundreds of leaders across industries and countries, looking for patterns that went beyond individual talent.
What they found changed everything: success wasn’t about having the smartest people in the room. It was about how work was distributed, how preferences were understood, and how teams coordinated their energy.
So they asked a radical question
“What if we could map the types of work every team needs to do — and then show each person where they naturally contribute best?”
That question led to the creation of the Types of Work Model and the Team Management Profile (TMP) — the world’s first psychometric tool designed specifically for teams in the workplace.
From Research to Revolution
The Team Management Profile didn’t emerge from theory alone — it was built from real-world research with real leaders facing real challenges. Margerison and McCann studied how high-performing teams actually worked, then developed a validated model that mapped individual work preferences to the critical functions every team must perform.
The result was a practical framework grounded in science — one that could be applied immediately in any team, in any industry, anywhere in the world. The Types of Work Model identified eight core activities that every team needs, and the TMP showed where each person naturally focused their energy. For the first time, teams had a shared language for understanding how they worked together.
The Original Frameworks
Work
Types of Work Wheel
The Types of Work Model identifies eight critical activities that every team must perform to succeed. These are not roles or job titles — they are categories of work that exist regardless of industry, size or function.
- Advising
- Innovating
- Promoting
- Developing
- Organising
- Producing
- Inspecting
- Maintaining
+ People =
Four Work Preference Measures (RIDO)
The RIDO model breaks work preferences into four fundamental dimensions — Relationships, Information, Decisions and Organisation — providing the foundation for how the Team Management Profile maps individual contributions.
People at Work
Team Management Wheel
The Team Management Wheel maps eight team role preferences to the Types of Work, showing where each person naturally focuses their energy and how they prefer to contribute.
- Reporter-Adviser
- Creator-Innovator
- Explorer-Promoter
- Assessor-Developer
- Thruster-Organiser
- Concluder-Producer
- Controller-Inspector
- Upholder-Maintainer
Built for Work From the Start
Science
TMS tools weren’t adapted from clinical psychology or personality theory. They were built from workplace research — studying what high-performing teams actually do differently. Every model, every question, every framework comes from evidence gathered in real organisations.
Work-First
We don’t label people. We don’t box them in. Our tools measure work preferences — how people like to work, where they focus their energy, and how they contribute to team outcomes. This means results are immediately applicable, not abstract.
Team-Focused
Most psychometric tools focus on the individual. TMS was built for teams from day one. Our models show how individual preferences combine, where gaps exist, and how to coordinate effort so the whole team performs better — not just the individuals within it.
Four Decades of Evolution
Origins
1985–1980s
- 1985 — Team Management Profile (TMP) launched based on research by Professors Charles Margerison and Dick McCann
- 1985 — Types of Work Model and Team Management Wheel published
- 1988 — TMS established as a company to support global distribution
- 1989 — Linking Leader Profile developed for leadership assessment
Growth
1990s–2000s
- 1990s — Global network of accredited practitioners established across 30+ countries
- 1993 — QO2 (Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient) Profile developed for risk orientation
- 1997 — Window on Work Values (WoWV) Profile launched
- 2006 — British Psychological Society review of TMS psychometric standards
Digital Transformation
2010s–2025
- 2010s — Online assessment platform launched, replacing paper-based profiling
- 2018 — Team Signals diagnostic tool developed for rapid team health checks
- 2020 — Virtual delivery model accelerated in response to global pandemic
- 2024 — Research database surpasses 683,000 responses from 190 countries
The Next Chapter
2026+
- 2026 — TeamOS platform launched — a unified SaaS experience integrating all TMS tools
- 2026 — Oski AI coach introduced for personalised team development guidance
- 2026 — TMS Global rebrand — new identity reflecting four decades of evolution and the next era of team science
- 2026 — 40th anniversary of the Team Management Profile
A Comprehensive Suite of Tools
Team Management Profile
Work Preferences
The flagship TMS tool. Maps individual work preferences to team roles using the Types of Work Model, giving teams a shared language for collaboration and coordination.
Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient Profile
Risk Orientation
Measures how people approach risk, change and uncertainty. Reveals whether individuals and teams lean toward opportunities or obstacles — and how resilient they are under pressure.
Window on Work Values Profile
Work Values
Identifies the values that drive motivation at work. Helps teams understand what matters most to each person — from authority and influence to creativity and independence.
Linking Leader Profile
360° Leadership
A 360° multi-rater diagnostic that measures leadership effectiveness across 13 linking skills. Shows leaders where they’re meeting expectations — and where the gaps are.
Team Signals
Team Diagnostic Tool
A rapid diagnostic that measures team health across key dimensions. Identifies strengths, risks and areas for development — giving teams a clear starting point for improvement.
TeamOS
Digital Platform
The unified digital platform that brings all TMS tools together. Complete assessments, explore results, access team insights and receive AI-powered coaching — all in one place.
- Integrated assessment delivery
- Team comparison and insights dashboard
- Oski AI coach for personalised guidance
- 2-year respondent access included
Commitment to Protection & Privacy
Privacy Act
Compliant with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). All data handling follows strict privacy protocols.
GDPR
Full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation for all European operations, ensuring data rights and protections for EU-based respondents.
Ethical Guidelines
All TMS tools are used within a framework of ethical guidelines that prioritise individual dignity, informed consent, and the responsible use of psychometric data.
Data Security
Enterprise-grade security infrastructure including encrypted data storage, secure transmission protocols, and regular security audits to protect respondent information.
BPS Standards
TMS tools have been reviewed by the British Psychological Society (BPS), meeting rigorous psychometric standards for validity, reliability and appropriate use.
Appropriate Use
TMS tools are designed for development, not selection. They are never used for hiring, screening or making employment decisions. Results belong to the individual.
What We Believe
Client Centric
Everything we do starts with the client. We listen, we adapt, and we deliver solutions that make a real difference to teams and organisations.
One Team
We practice what we preach. Our global team works collaboratively, sharing knowledge, supporting each other, and building on collective strengths.
Authentic Communicators
We say what we mean and mean what we say. Honest, transparent communication is the foundation of every relationship we build.
High Performing
We hold ourselves to the same standards we help our clients achieve. Excellence in everything — from research to delivery to support.
Ethical
We are committed to the responsible use of behavioural science. Our tools empower people — they never label, limit or judge.
Fun
We believe great work happens when people enjoy what they do. Energy, curiosity and a sense of play run through everything we create.