Behavioural differences of high and low performing teams: a multi-institutional study of first-year engineering design teams

Abstract

This paper compares student intra-team feedback to identify behaviours that differentiate high and low performing teams. Data from two universities’ first-year engineering design courses was analysed and demonstrated that the ways in which students discussed high and low performing teams was similar. This paper discusses some of the issues with which low performing teams struggled. Both high and low performing teams experienced a lack of quality and quantity of communication, whereas low-performing teams struggled with hoarding work, leveraging team members and supporting others. High-performing teams may have a more collective team mindset that values the skills and perspectives of all team members more.