CHAPTER 3 - Team Size
For centuries, societies and military organizations have grappled with the challenge of determining the ideal size for a group. Interestingly though, across all cultures, societies tended to from similar sizes. For instance, pre-modern villages around the world tended to grow to approximately 300 people and where roughly 20 miles apart, which was close enough to walk to and back in a day in order to visit a doctor or achieve something that could not be done in your own village. In military, the smallest Roman cohort started with 10 men consisting of 1 leader, 7 soldiers and 2 slaves. These days a Marine squad consists of 13 soldiers divided into 3 teams of 4 with a squad leader.
“There is a limit to how many individuals can effectively communicate and coordinate with one another, but generally, the ideal team size is typically 6 or 7 members to prevent an excessive number of connections and ensure effective collaboration.”
Historical examples suggest that there is a limit to how many individuals can effectively communicate and coordinate with one another. But the question of how many is too many is not just an issue of social organization or military strategy. It also has important implications for innovation and problem-solving in modern workplaces, where interdisciplinary teams are increasingly being relied upon to generate new ideas and tackle complex challenges. And yet, as with any group, the ideal team size sometimes remains elusive, and is influenced by a range of factors including the team’s primary aim and the relationships between its members. In this chapter, we’ll explore some of the key considerations when determining the ideal team size, and offer some practical strategies for assembling effective teams in a variety of contexts.
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