The integration capability

The integration capability

Individuals acting as a coordinated unit

The group’s integration capability is primarily about the individual participant’s behavior. This dimension is important because it explains why a group will never be effective by solely addressing overall ability: Individuals continuously contribute with their efforts to dynamically and flexibly coordinate themselves with the team and the other team members. This critical effort is controlled by the individual alone, not the team. A group’s integration capability is therefore based on the participants’ ability to be sensitive to the group’s needs. But what often is forgotten, is that this sensitivity must include the individual’s own needs as well.

The team members’ ability to act as a coordinated unit based on their supportive behavior

To exemplify, this is the same as for a team player in sports, who must know and work on her own individual skills, while at the same time train collectively with the team. If the player develops her own techniques and fitness she will play “better” for the team. If the player overestimates her capabilities, she will not strengthen the team. If the player acts with courage and strength when the team faces setbacks and failure, she will contribute to the team’s strength and will to win.

Author

Influence Labs

CI Model Research

Developing Collective Intelligence is an approach to share and integrate knowledge using self-navigation and reflection to achieve commonly defined goals.