consortiums

PROJECT 12

SELECTION AND CLASSIFICATION

Development and Implementation of a Process for Assessing Heterogeneous Work Group Functioning with Special Reference to Military Personnel

Dan Landis
University of Mississippi

Proposed Grant $111,190

Abstract:
A series of studies is proposed to explore cultural impacts on work-group productivity as they effect the functioning of such groups in military settings. These studies will be directed to the development of a model

of work group behavior that takes account of the impact of culture and ethnicity on group functioning and its ability to achieve assigned missions when those missions involve team members in non-contiguous locations. The studies will use a technology developed in a previous ONR supported effort. These studies will be carried out by a consortium of institutions that have a diversity of subject populations. We also plan to establish a test center at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute at Patrick AFB, FL in order to extend the external validity of the findings into the military setting. As such this proposal has important implications for the management of military personnel as well as recruitment in minority populations. The diversity of populations to be tested provides a protection against the results being situation and population specific, a common problem in university based research.