Four Decades of Team Science
TMS Global maintains one of the world’s largest team effectiveness research databases: 2.5 million professionals and 159 professions across 190 countries. Our methodology isn’t theory. It’s proven science.
Explore the research foundation behind every TMS Global diagnostic, framework, and recommendation.
All Research Papers
All (13)
Norm Data & Analysis (4)
Foundations & Frameworks (3)
Validation & Reliability (2)
Research Manual (2)
Global & Translations (1)
Publications & References (1)
Select a category above to sort by topic
13 research papers sorted by date. Click any title to read the full paper.
Research Publications and References
Public domain articles and publications referencing TMS
19 Mar 2026→
TMS Concepts
The core TMS models that form the Language of Teamwork
19 Mar 2026→
How High-Performing Teams Work
Nine principles on what separates high-performing teams
19 Mar 2026→
Profile Translations
TMP questionnaire translations available, covering 24 languages
19 Mar 2026→
Explore Our 2025 Norm Data
2025 TMS norm data, drawing on 700,000+ profiles worldwide
1 May 2025→
What Drives Work in Education and Retail?
683,000+ TMP profiles across 55 countries and 65 industries
15 Apr 2025→
Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders
TMP and QO2 data from 680,000+ profiles on leadership pathways
10 Apr 2025→
Balanced and Unbalanced Teams
How both balanced and unbalanced teams achieve high performance
4 Feb 2025→
The Effect of Age and Gender on Work Preferences
500,000+ TMP respondents — how age and gender influence preferences
15 Aug 2023→
Research Manual 5th Edition – Profession Analysis
TMP data across 295 professions worldwide
15 Aug 2018→
Research Manual 5th Edition – Country Analysis
TMP data from 202 countries
15 Aug 2018→
Temporal Stability of Psychometric Instruments
Test-retest reliability data for TMP and QO2
7 May 2018→
Work and Non-Work Study
TMP work preferences differ substantially from non-work preferences
7 May 2018→
Research at Scale
The Numbers That Matter
700k+
Individual Responses
Across 158 professions and 202 countries, spanning four decades
202
Countries Represented
In the TMS Global Research Manual (5th Edition) worldwide country database
100+
Publications
Advancing team science through journal articles, research papers, and professional publications
40+
Years of Continuous Research
Longitudinal data showing how teams evolve over time
24,000+
Practitioners Contributing Data
Real-world validation from teams in every industry
What We Study
Research Focus Areas
Work Preferences Across Professions
How do engineers work differently than educators? How do retail teams approach tasks compared to healthcare teams? We study sector-specific dynamics to refine our frameworks.
Recent Study: “What Drives Work in Education and Retail?” (April 2025)
Related Product:
Team Composition and Performance
What makes teams balanced? When does specialisation help vs. hurt? How does role distribution affect outcomes? We measure what actually drives team effectiveness.
Recent Study: “Balanced and Unbalanced Teams” (February 2025)
Related Product:
Leadership Development Pathways
How do leaders evolve from operational to strategic roles? What linking skills matter most? We study leadership development across organisational levels.
Recent Study: “Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders” (April 2025)
Related Products:
Leadership DNA
Is there such a thing as leader DNA? Analysis of 683,000 professional profiles collected over 40 years of research suggests there may well be. By comparing psychometric data across organisational levels, we have identified five distinctive characteristics common to leaders.
Recent Study: “The Leadership DNA” (January 2026)
Related Product:
Geographic and Cultural Variations
Team dynamics vary across cultures. We’ve studied work preferences in 48 countries to understand how culture shapes collaboration.
Research Manual 5th Edition includes comprehensive country-level analysis.
Risk Orientation and Change Readiness
How do people respond to uncertainty? What predicts resilience? We measure how teams navigate change — critical for today’s volatile environment.
Related Product: QO2 (Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient) built on this research.
Related Product:
Values Alignment and Culture
What values drive behaviour at work? How does values misalignment create conflict? We study the hidden forces shaping team dynamics.
Related Product: WoWV (Window on Work Values) grounded in values research from Rokeach, Schwartz, Triandis.
Related Product:
Our Research Methodology
Rigorous Standards, Real-World Application
How We Conduct Research
01
Large-Scale Data Collection
TMS’s 40-year research program established rigorous data collection methods:
- Surveys administered globally across industries
- Longitudinal tracking (same participants over time)
- Multi-method validation (surveys + behavioural observation + performance data)
02
Psychometric Validation
TMS instruments have undergone rigorous validation:
- Reliability testing (consistent results over time)
- Validity testing (measures what it claims to measure)
- Factor analysis (identifying underlying dimensions)
- Normative data development (benchmarking)
03
External Review
TMS Global® research credibility established through:
- Reviewed by the British Psychological Society
- Peer-reviewed publications
- Academic collaborations
- Independent validation studies
04
Continuous Refinement
TMS frameworks and products continue to evolve:
- Biennial database updates
- Framework evolution informed by practitioner feedback and field data
- Product enhancements grounded in research findings
- Norm updates reflecting workforce evolution
Result: TMS Global® tools don’t just feel helpful — they’re scientifically proven to measure what matters.
Validation & Review
British Psychological Society Recognition
TMS Global® diagnostics meet the rigorous standards of the British Psychological Society — the UK’s representative body for psychology and psychologists.
What BPS Review Means
- Psychometric validity (measures what it claims)
- Reliability (consistent results)
- Ethical use standards
- Professional quality assurance
- Academic credibility
TMS Global® Products Reviewed by the British Psychological Society
Team Management Profile (TMP)
Reviewed 2003
Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient (QO2)
Reviewed 2006
Linking Leader Profile (LLP|360)
Reviewed 2006
Window on Work Values (WoWV)
Reviewed 2006
Key Research Findings
Insights That Changed How We Build Teams
Finding #1: Work Preferences Predict Team Performance Better Than Personality Types
Early TMS research showed that traditional personality assessments had limited correlation with team effectiveness. Work preferences — how people approach tasks, not personality traits — proved to be stronger predictors of performance.
Impact: TMS Global® focuses on behaviour at work, not personality labels.
Related Product:
Finding #2: Teams Need All 8 Roles to Perform
Research into team role distribution reveals that high-performing teams have representation across all 8 work role areas (Advising, Innovating, Promoting, Developing, Organising, Producing, Inspecting, Maintaining). Teams missing roles struggle in predictable ways.
Impact: TMP helps identify role gaps before they cause problems.
Related Product:
Finding #3: Values Misalignment Creates More Conflict Than Personality Differences
Research into cross-cultural teams found that values clashes (Authority vs. Empowerment, Individualism vs. Collectivism) predicted conflict better than personality or work preference differences.
Impact: Values assessment became critical for mergers, global teams, culture change.
Related Product:
Finding #4: Risk Orientation Predicts Change Response
Research during organisational change showed that individuals’ opportunity vs. obstacle focus predicted their response to change better than many other factors — including role, tenure, or past performance.
Impact: QO2 now standard for change management initiatives.
Related Product:
Finding #5: 360° Feedback Works — If Done Right
Research into leadership development programmes shows that 360° feedback drives behaviour change only when:
- Behaviours measured are specific and observable
- Feedback is multi-rater (not just manager)
- Leaders receive skilled facilitation
- Follow-up measurement occurs
Impact: LLP|360 designed around these success factors.
Related Product:
Finding #6: Real-Time Diagnostics Outperform Annual Surveys
Industry experience and practitioner feedback consistently show that by the time annual survey results are analysed and acted upon, team composition or context has often changed — rendering insights obsolete. Real-time team diagnostics provide more timely and actionable insights.
Impact: Real-time team diagnostics became essential.
Related Product:
Research Publications
Browse Our Research Library
Recent Papers
Leadership DNA (January 2026)
Analysis of 683,000 professional profiles across organisational levels, to identify five distinctive characteristics that form what we call ‘The Leadership DNA’.
What Drives Work in Education and Retail? (April 2025)
Sector-specific analysis of work preferences across two very different industries — and what it means for team composition.
Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders (April 2025)
Study of leadership role evolution from operational to strategic positions using TMP and QO2 profile data.
Balanced and Unbalanced Teams (February 2025)
Analysis of team role distribution patterns and their impact on performance outcomes.
The Effect of Age and Gender on Work Preferences (August 2023)
Comprehensive study of demographic factors influencing work preferences, drawing on over 476,000 Team Management Profiles.
TMS Global Research Manual — 6th Edition: Country Analysis (2025)
Normative data and analysis across 202 countries — the most comprehensive global team research database.
Research for Practitioners
Applying Research in Your Practice
Access Research Resources
- Full research papers (not just summaries)
- Normative data for benchmarking
- Country-specific norms for global clients
- Sector-specific findings
- Demographic analysis tools
Use Research to Build Credibility
- Cite specific studies in client proposals
- Use research data to justify recommendations
- Share research summaries with clients
- Ground interventions in evidence
Contribute to Research
- Anonymised client data contributes to TMS Global\u00ae database
- Case study opportunities
Research Collaborations
Partner With TMS Global®
For Academics & Researchers
Access anonymised TMS Global® database for academic studies. Collaboration opportunities available for researchers and academic institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is TMS Global® research different from academic studies?
TMS Global® research combines academic rigour with practitioner application. Our database (700,000+ responses) is larger than most academic studies and spans real organisations, not lab settings.
Can I access the full TMS Global® research database?
Accredited practitioners access normative data, benchmarking tools, and research summaries through the practitioner portal. Full database access (for academic research) requires collaboration agreement with TMS Global® research team.
How often is TMS Global® research updated?
We add thousands of responses annually, publish new papers regularly, and update product norms biennially.
Does my organisation’s data contribute to TMS Global® research?
If you complete TMS Global® diagnostics, your anonymised data (no personally identifiable information) contributes to the research database — helping refine norms and validate frameworks. You can opt out if preferred.
Can I cite TMS Global® research in my academic work?
Yes. TMS Global® research is peer-reviewed and citable. Practitioners often cite TMS Global® studies in client proposals, white papers, and presentations. Academics cite TMS Global® in dissertations, journal articles, and textbooks.
How does TMS Global® ensure research quality?
We follow rigorous psychometric standards, collaborate with academic institutions, and continuously validate through real-world application by 24,000+ practitioners.
What’s the difference between the Research Manual and research papers?
The Research Manual (6th Edition) is our comprehensive reference — all frameworks, norms, validation data in one document. Research papers are focused studies on specific topics published over time. Both are valuable; the Manual is the foundation.
Research Publications and References
A list of public domain articles and publications referencing Team Management Systems and its suite of products, spanning four decades of research into team management, work preferences, and leadership development.
TMS Concepts
An overview of the core TMS models that form the Language of Teamwork — from the Team Management Wheel and Types of Work Wheel to the Linking Skills Model, Risk Orientation Model, and Window on Work Values.
How High-Performing Teams Work
Nine principles from TMS on what separates high-performing teams — covering team energy, shared values, risk orientation, Linking Skills, and the role of dialogue in sustained performance.
Explore Our 2025 Norm Data
An overview of the 2025 TMS norm data, drawing on 700,000+ psychometric profiles worldwide, with guidance on how HR, L&D, and team leaders can benchmark and apply norm insights.
What Drives Work in Education and Retail?
Drawing on over 683,000 TMP profiles across 55 countries, this article examines how work preferences differ between the Education and Retail sectors and what those differences mean for leadership, change management, and team engagement.
Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders
Drawing on TMP and QO2 data from over 680,000 profiles globally, this article explores how work preferences evolve from operational to strategic roles and how organisations can design targeted leadership development pathways.
Balanced and Unbalanced Teams
This article explores how both balanced and unbalanced teams can achieve high performance, examining the role of Pacing and Linking Skills in diverse teams, and how structured colour meetings help unbalanced teams address blind spots.
The Effect of Age and Gender on Work Preferences
Drawing on data from over 500,000 TMP respondents, this article analyses how age and gender influence work preferences, finding minimal gender differences but a consistent pattern of preference shifts across life stages.
Research Manual 5th Edition – Country Analysis
Drawing on TMP data from 202 countries, this article presents key findings from the RM5 country analysis, highlighting significant cross-national differences in work preferences across 48 countries with 300 or more respondents.
Research Manual 5th Edition – Profession Analysis
The RM5 profession analysis examines TMP data across 295 professions worldwide, revealing clear relationships between work preferences and job roles — from media specialists and architects to paralegals, accountants, and geoscientists.
Work and Non-Work Study
Two studies of 99 and 555 respondents demonstrate that TMP work preferences can differ substantially from non-work preferences, supporting the case for using work-specific psychometric instruments in workplace development contexts.