Do groups outperform individuals? They then showed that those characteristics help predict when teams are likely to best individuals (which is more accurate, they say, than older methods). ”— Xinlan Emily HuHow to Match Teams to the Right Kinds of WorkThe findings may explain why more than 80 years of research into when groups outperform individuals has produced such conflicting results. They also tested whether team size changed the picture, comparing individuals with groups of three and six. The findings ultimately suggest there is no universal blueprint for building strong teams — the implication being that companies may need to think more about matching teams to the right kinds of work.