Methodology and Metrics for Assessing Team Effectiveness

Abstract

This paper describes a new systematic methodology and measurements for assessing the effectiveness of engineering/business student teams. This new methodology is unique because it predicts team effectiveness. Our approach replaces the traditional methods of indirect surveying and interviewing with direct surveys and systematic exercises designed to measure team effectiveness. Effectiveness was defined and evaluated using three outcomes: creativity, collaboration and productivity. These three outcomes were measured using applied psychology metrics. By quantifying creativity, collaboration and productivity, this new assessment methodology provided a more objective way of measuring effectiveness. The outcomes were equally weighted to calculate an effectiveness rating. The teams that were faculty-selected and properly coached were confirmed to be at least twice as effective as those that were student-selected and received little coaching.