Copyright Matters

Your Right to use the Materials on our Website

The material on this website is protected by copyright, database, trademark and other intellectual property rights.

Leadership Solutions, as the licensed holder of the Belbin® marks in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands regions, offers you qualified use of these materials on the following conditions:

  • You may use the materials in our Resources section in programmes that you run. However if you do use any of this material no deletions or additions may be made to any item and the source (Belbin® or Leadership Solutions Limited) must be visible on the material and so acknowledged.
  • None of this material can be sold or otherwise distributed for use in any other programmes.

Looking beyond our website

Have you ever completed a Belbin questionnaire but didn’t get a detailed .pdf report with your results? Have you ever added up the scores yourself? You may have seen or found a document that claims to be a Belbin test.

If so, you were probably breaking Belbin’s copyright and you definitely missed out on the real Belbin.

So what’s the difference?

Belbin questionnaires can only be completed through the purpose built Interplace computer system, which analyses the results, comparing your scores to thousands of others and taking in the feedback of your colleagues for a full 360 degree view. We produce a detailed, unique and informative report which shows your whole spectrum of strengths and weaknesses – not just “which Team Role am I?”

We frequently receive enquiries requesting information on the copyright of Belbin materials – in particular, the use of the self-scoring paper Self-Perception Inventory (SPI) originally published in Meredith Belbin’s book, Management Teams:  Why They Succeed or Fail (1981).

To clarify the position, Belbin Associates UK owns the copyright and does not allow this questionnaire to be reproduced in any form. Individuals may have purchased the book (1st and 2nd editions) and completed the SPI for their own personal development, but any copying/adapting or wider usage is an infringement of copyright. The 3rd edition of Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail does not contain any inventories.

What’s wrong with self-scoring?

We do not allow the use of the self-scoring questionnaire. Apart from its reproduction being a breach of this copyright, it is:

  • Obsolete (no Specialist role)
  • Lacking the balance of observer input
  • Not properly normed
  • Does not offer any Team Role advice.

Remember, there is no free Belbin Questionnaire or free Belbin Test. If you are interested in using Belbin legitimately and purchasing Belbin Reports then please contact us at info@leadershipsolutions.co.nz

If you are unsure about the testing your organisation is using, or would like further advice, please contact the Belbin NZ.

Working in with Belbin UK we will, and do, take legal action against companies and individuals using unauthorised versions. To date action has been taken against more than 400 copyright infringements around the world.

Please make sure you are up to date and not 30 years behind.

Check what ‘Belbin’ questionnaire you are using and ALWAYS check that any consultant or training company you are thinking of using has the correct version.

To find out more contact us at belbin@leadershipsolutions.co.nz  / +6421630796. We will be happy to help you get the best out of the real Belbin Team Roles

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