The case study is based on marketing students' experience of using Blackboard in one of the largest polytechnics in Singapore. Nevertheless, securing a place in a polytechnic is extremely competitive, with only 40% of applicants gaining a place (Sanderson, 2002). For past decades, polytechnics in Singapore have been viewed as institutions that provide 'para-professional training' (Sanderson, 2002).

This study examines the use of Blackboard as a communication and learning facilitation tool in a tertiary institution (polytechnic) situated in Singapore. Implications of these findings are discussed. Again alpha levels were low, intercorrelations not as predicted and the factor structure unclear. A third experiment used the original scale with the original ipsative scoring system using full-time managers as subjects.

Team-role scores did not correlate significantly with a large number of demographic factors any more than may be expected by chance. Again the alpha coefficients were modest and the factor analysis suggested a more simple solution than suggested. The second experiment attempted a similar non-ipsative analysis with the more recent 70-item version of the questionnaire which has nine team roles. The alpha coefficients for the eight roles were not impressive and factor analysis did not provide clear evidence of the proposed structure. The original 56-item inventory was given to over 100 people from a variety of backgrounds in a non-ipsative Likert scaling form. This paper set out to examine the psychometric properties of the extensively used, but little tested, Belbin (1981) Team-Role Self-Perception Inventory which examines how people behave in teams.

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