Types of Work Wheel

Developed by Dr Charles Margerison and Dr Dick McCann, the Types of Work Wheel is a research-based framework that maps the core activities every team or organisation must address to perform effectively. As a foundational tool in the Team Management Systems approach, it helps leaders visualise how work is distributed, prioritise critical tasks, and maintain functional balance.

Based on studies of high-performing teams across industries, the Wheel outlines eight distinct Types of Work that appear consistently in successful operations. At the centre is Linking—a coordinating activity that connects people and tasks to ensure integration and alignment.

Advising – Gathering, analysing and reporting information to support understanding and decision making.

Innovating – Creating and experimenting with novel ideas, methods or approaches.

Promoting – Identifying possibilities and gaining attention or support for initiatives or opportunities.

Developing – Testing and refining concepts, and assessing their feasibility and practical application.

Organising – Establishing the systems, plans and resources required to implement work effectively.

Producing – Delivering tangible results and outcomes to agreed quality and time standards.

Inspecting – Monitoring, checking, and applying controls to maintain accuracy, consistency and compliance.

Maintaining – Supporting continuity through the preservation of standards, systems, values and relationships.

Linking – Coordinating people and tasks to ensure communication, alignment and momentum.

Purpose and Use

The Types of Work Wheel provides a practical structure for activities such as team development, strategic and operational planning, role clarification, and performance-based work allocation.

It offers a common language for exploring how work is approached, where effort is concentrated, and which activities are potentially under- or over-represented in a team or project.

While individuals may engage in a range of activities, most job roles centre on just two or three Types of Work that are pivotal to success. Teams, by contrast, must ensure that all eight are covered to operate cohesively and sustainably. Some Types of Work can be shared broadly across a team, while others require specific expertise or strong personal preferences. Clarifying which activities are essential—and matching them to those best equipped to deliver—builds alignment and improves delivery.

When used alongside the Team Management Profile (TMP), the Types of Work Wheel can also reveal how individual work preferences relate to the needs of the task and can also highlight where Linking behaviours are particularly needed to support collaboration and coordination.

About Linking

Positioned at the centre of the Types of Work Wheel, Linking is not a task category but a set of behavioural skills that coordinate, align and sustain team performance. It connects people and tasks, ensuring that communication flows, responsibilities are clear, and goals remain in focus. For more information on Linking see the Linking Skills Model.