Long-term information processing capacity in teams: The case for foundational memory

Date

2001-05

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

It has been found that the limit for the information that individuals are capable to receive, process and retain in Short-Term Memory is seven plus or minus two (Miller, 1956). This limit has been used as the basis for the design of work systems for teams (tasks, procedures, size of teams, etc.) However, in reality work teams more likely perform work tasks that require the use of Long-Term Memory (Beruvides, 2000). Work systems are usually not designed to increase the ability of teams to process and handle information from Long-Term Memory. This creates the necessity of a new approach for teams to process the information that they require to effectively perform their work.

This research tried to test the concept of Foundational Memory on teams by determining whether their capacity for processing information can be enhanced by the use of a theory formation methodology.

Description

Keywords

Long-term memory, Teams in the workplace, Performance

Citation