What term refers to team members’ knowledge and beliefs about how the work gets done by the team?

The correct term for team members’ knowledge and beliefs about how the work gets done by the team is mental models. Mental models are cognitive frameworks that help individuals understand and interpret their experiences. In the context of a team, these models represent the shared understanding among members regarding processes, roles, and expectations for teamwork. They shape how individuals approach tasks, collaborate, and solve problems together, which contributes to effective teamwork and overall performance.

Organizational culture encompasses the shared values, beliefs, and practices within an entire organization rather than focusing specifically on how a team operates. While organizational culture can influence the mental models developed by team members, it is a broader concept that captures the overall environment and climate of the organization. The dominant culture refers to the prevailing values and norms that influence the behavior within an organization, while subcultures are smaller cultures that exist within the larger organizational culture, often sharing some elements with the dominant culture but differing in certain aspects. Thus, while these terms are related to the overall environment in which teams operate, they do not pinpoint the specific knowledge and beliefs held by team members about their work processes.