Staffing work teams: Development and validation of a selection test for teamwork settings

The purpose of this research was to develop a selection test for staffing w ork teams. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs)for effective teamwor k (Stevens & Campion, 1994) were used to develop a paper-and-pencil test of teamwork situations. KSAs reflected conflict resolution, collaborative pro blem solving, communication, goal setting and performance management, and p lanning and task coordination. Standard test construction techniques were u sed, and the test contained 35 multiple-choice items on hypothetical teamwo rk situations. Two validation studies were conducted involving production e mployees in a pulp mill (n = 70) and box plant (n = 72). Results showed cri terion-related validity with supervisory and peer ratings of teamwork and o verall job performance. However, a key unexpected finding was the large cor relation with employment aptitude tests, suggesting that the Teamwork Test has a significant general mental ability component. The study also has seco ndary implications for the literatures on both contextual performance and s ituational tests. It was concluded that a consideration of individual level KSAs can have both conceptual and practical value in the staffing of work teams.