Science

The scientific foundation of the KIMERO Index

The KIMERO Index is built on established constructs from organisational and motivation research. This page shows which source stands behind which dimension, and where a foundation still needs to be added rather than invented.

The three dimensions

Digital Systems
Disclosure · Clarity · Accuracy · Timeliness · Relevance

Introducing digital systems into daily work, such as tools for collaboration, goal tracking, communication, can help teams orient themselves and coordinate better. When this introduction happens too fast or without involving the teams, it easily tips from orientation into a felt sense of control.

Theoretical foundation: Schnackenberg, A. K., & Tomlinson, E. C. (2016). Organizational transparency: A new perspective on managing trust in organization-stakeholder relationships. Journal of Management, 42(7), 1784–1810.

Measurement instrument: Hossiep, C. R., Märtins, J., & Schewe, G. (2024). Measuring organizational transparency with 10 items: Validation of a German short scale. Measurement Instruments for the Social Sciences, 6, Article e11209. https://doi.org/10.5964/miss.11209

Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation · Identified Regulation

This dimension captures forms of autonomous motivation from self-determination theory: intrinsic motivation, when an activity is pursued out of genuine interest, and identified regulation, when its purpose and value are personally endorsed.

Theoretical foundation: Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. Guilford Press.

Measurement instrument: Gagné, M., Forest, J., Vansteenkiste, M., Crevier-Braud, L., Van den Broeck, A., Aspeli, A. K., Bellerose, J., Benabou, C., Chemolli, E., Güntert, S. T., Halvari, H., Indiyastuti, D. L., Johnson, P. A., Molstad, M. H., Naudin, M., Ndao, A., Olafsen, A. H., Roussel, P., Wang, Z., & Westbye, C. (2015). The Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale: Validation evidence in seven languages and nine countries. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 24(2), 178–196.

Organisation
Coordination · Reliability · Workload Balance

This dimension builds on established teamwork-quality research. It measures how well a team coordinates, how reliably it delivers, and how evenly its workload is balanced.

Theoretical foundation: Hoegl, M., & Gemuenden, H. G. (2001). Teamwork Quality and the Success of Innovative Projects: A Theoretical Concept and Empirical Evidence. Organization Science, 12(4), 435–449.

Measurement instrument: Hoegl, M., & Gemuenden, H. G. (2001). Teamwork Quality and the Success of Innovative Projects: A Theoretical Concept and Empirical Evidence. Organization Science, 12(4), 435–449.

Context factors

Autonomy and task complexity are captured in addition, using the Work Design Questionnaire. They are not factored into the KIMERO Index; they're reported separately. They explain why the same recommendation can play out differently for two teams, for example when one team works considerably more autonomously or handles more complex tasks than the other.

Humphrey, S. E., Nahrgang, J. D., & Morgeson, F. P. (2007). Integrating motivational, social, and contextual work design features: A meta-analytic summary and theoretical extension of the work design literature. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(5), 1332–1356.

How answers become a value between 0 and 100

All items are measured on a 7-point scale (1 = not true at all, 7 = fully true), averaged per metric, and linearly mapped onto a 0–100 scale. Metrics are averaged into dimensions, and dimensions into the KIMERO Index. Results only appear once a minimum number of responses is reached, so no individual result ever becomes visible.

The complete instrument definition (all items, weights, formula) is part of the KIMERO project and continues to evolve as our understanding grows.

Context factors such as autonomy and task complexity are reported separately and are not factored into the KIMERO Index.

State of the research

The constructs used here are scientifically established and backed by real sources. The concrete KIMERO survey instrument itself is under active development. This is deliberately not a claim of a finished, published validation study, but a transparently reasoned, evolving foundation.