SculptorCuratorExplorerInnovatorCoachCrusaderConductorScientistHome Page SculptorCuratorExplorerInnovatorCoachCrusaderConductorScientistConductorScientist MTR-i team roles(TM)

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Compare the MTR-i™ with
Belbin® and the MBTI®

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Comparisons between MTR-i team roles, and Belbin and the MBTI instruments

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MTR-i™ and Belbin® Team Roles

The MTR-i™ team roles do not correspond with the Belbin® team roles - they are a new set of roles, having been produced on a different theoretical basis. A study undertaken by Henley Management College (Higgs, 1996) showed that, although there may be some loose correlations, there is not a clear relationship between Belbin and the MBTI® (based on the same underlying theory as the MTR-i). The table below shows the implied correlations there might be between the two team role models:

MTR-i team role Belbin comparison
(derived from Henley Report) (MTR-i author's hypothesis)
Coach Team Worker Team Worker
Crusader No equivalent No equivalent
Explorer Resource Investigator Resource Investigator
Innovator No equivalent Plant
Sculptor No equivalent Shaper
Curator Monitor Evaluator
Implementor		 Monitor Evaluator
Conductor Co-ordinator
Completer Finisher
Implementor
Shaper		 Co-ordinator
Completer Finisher
Implementor
Scientist No equivalent No equivalent

Price comparison

CostsMTR-iBelbin
Paper version$10See note 1$25.56See note 2
On-line version$10See note 3$35.50See note 4
Notes
  1. The price for the paper version of the MTR-i are as quoted at www.hpsys.com, and includes the answer sheet and report form/360° feedback, but not the reusable question cards (one off cost, at approximately $8 per card)

  2. The cost of the paper version of Belbin's Self Perception Inventory is based on purchasing the book "Management Teams - Why They Succeed or Fail" for each completion. A note at the Belbin website states:
    The Self-Perception Inventory within this book... should not be used commercially, photocopied or reproduced in any format electronically, as this infringes intellectual copyright.
    The price of the book is as quoted at Belbin's website as £18 (sterling)

  3. The price for the on-line MTR-i is that quoted by Pan Testing

  4. The price for the on-line Belbin is based on the Sterling priced quoted by the Belbin website - £25.

  5. The amounts quoted in the table above are all US dollars, using an exchange rate of 1.42 with Sterling (source: Ceefax). Shipping costs are excluded from all costs.

Comparison with the MBTI

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a model of personality preferences. It identifies characteristics and traits that are associated with the person.  The MTR-i is a team roles model. It identifies what kind of contribution is being made to the team. Whereas MBTI type is inborn, MTR-i team roles change from situation to situation, in accord with the demands of the environment.

The MTR-i complements the MBTI by enabling a comparison between preferences and roles being performed. The MTR-i does not measure the same things as the MBTI.

MBTI MTR-i
Reports personality preferences

Consistent over time

Tries to measure personality type

Reports 4 pairs of preferences,
resulting in 16 personality types

 Reports contribution to the team

Changes in different situations

Tries to measure use of
Jungian function-attitudes

Reports 8 distinct team roles

Any personality type can undertake any team role. However, there is a strong link between the two models, based on the theory of Carl Jung. Both models and questionnaires are concerned with the Jungian functions or function-attitudes. The differences are:

  • The MBTI indicates which Jungian function-attitudes are preferred. (Everyone uses all the Jungian-functions, no matter what their preferences.)
  • The MTR-i indicates which Jungian function-attitudes are primarily being used at present. (Irrespective of which function-attitudes are currently being used, one’s underlying preference may be different.)

The table below identifies the theoretical correspondence between personality type and team role, and the Jungian function attitudes that provide the link.

MBTI types Function-attitude
preferred / used		 MTR-i team role
ESFJ/ENFJ Fe Coach
ISFP/INFP Fi Crusader
ENTP/ENFP Ne Explorer
INTJ/INFJ Ni Innovator
ESFP/ESTP Se Sculptor
ISTJ/ISFJ Si Curator
ESTJ/ENTJ Te Conductor
ISTP/INTP Ti Scientist

The linkages between the two models are reflected in the colours of the MTR-i team wheel:

  • Yellow team roles correspond to the Sensing function
  • Green team roles correspond to the Intuition function
  • Red team roles correspond to the Thinking function
  • Blue team roles correspond to the Feeling function
  • Team roles on the outside of the wheel correspond to functions oriented towards the outer world of people/things
  • Team roles on the inside of the wheel correspond to functions oriented towards the inner world of ideas/information

The MTR-i can be purchased by appropriately qualified individuals from various distributors.

References

Higgs, Malcom (1996), A comparison of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Belbin Team Roles, Henley Management College

©2000 S P Myers ™MTR-i, Management Team Roles-indicator by S P Myers, the coloured wheel and the eight team role names are all trademarks of S P Myers. ®MBTI and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are trademarks of Consulting Psychologists Press. OPP have exclusive rights to the trademark in the UK. ®Belbin is a registered trademark of Belbin associates. Cartoons by Pat Marr. S P Myers is the Managing Partner of Team Technology in the UK and is no relation to Isabel Briggs-Myers.