The Science of Team Science: Exploring Principal Investigator Leadership Style and Team Collaboration Satisfaction

The Science of Team Science: Exploring Principal Investigator Leadership Style and Team Collaboration Satisfaction Stephenie K. Kennedy This study examined the relationship between the leadership style of principal investigators (PIs) of interdisciplinary research teams at academic health science centers and the collaboration satisfaction of their team members. Two stage sampling was used. One hundred NIH-funded principal investigators at eight regional health science centers completed a team identification form, identifying their teams as interdisciplinary and providing the names and emails of team members. An online survey instrument that included a basic demographic questionnaire, the Bolman and Deal Leadership (Others) Survey, and the Collaboration and Transdisciplinary Integration Survey was then sent to team members. The sample used for analysis included 170 individuals from 38 teams at 7 institutions. Team members identified that the PIs used all of the frames, but were more likely to use the human resource and structural frames. The pattern of frame use resulted in the identification that PIs were more likely to adopt a multi-frame leadership style rather than the no, single, or paired styles. Nearly 53 percent of teams identified that their satisfaction with collaboration was good to excellent, but the areas of team meeting productivity and conflict resolution were identified as potential areas of improvement. An analysis of variance was completed and demonstrated that there was a significant difference in collaboration satisfaction; the political frame differed significantly from both the symbolic and human resource frames. Additionally, team members' reports were significantly different between leaders using the multi-framed style and the no frame style. The effect size for this sample was small and indicated that approximately five percent of the variance could be explained by leadership. Most teams were composed of six to ten members and led by experienced PIs. The gender of the PIs was 58% male and 42% female. Running Head: PI LEADERSHIP STYLE AND COLLABORATION iii Acknowledgements I want to express my thanks to the members of my dissertation committee for their guidance, probing questions, and kindness during this educational journey. The positive comments and thoughtful dialogue allowed me to learn throughout the process. Much appreciation is extended to Dr. Reagan Curtis for agreeing to chair this committee, provide methodological support, and assist in the completion of the document. I also want to thank my mentors, Dr. Scot Remick, Dr. Laura Gibson, Pamela Brown, and Lisa Shepard for their support and encouragement along the way. I also wish to acknowledge my professional colleagues at West Virginia University, Pennsylvania State University, Ohio State University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Kentucky for their kind words and motivation. Finally, I want to acknowledge my family and friends for keeping me grounded and focused during the difficult times. I want to express my gratitude to my parents, grandparents, and Aunt "Bert" for encouraging me at a young age to set goals, challenge myself, and apply the gifts I was given. Many thanks are also extended to my sister for always keeping me humble, to my long distance lifeline, Chris, for sharing 25+ years of friendship and teaching me that a good laugh is healing, and to the Sunday night book club for reminding me that literature enhances our lives and there is always time for a good book. Lastly, and most importantly, my heartfelt thanks go to the "home team" of Julie, Josie, and Jordan whose love, patience, prodding, laughter, and support ensured that this research was completed and my sanity maintained. I am blessed, both personally and professionally, with people in my life who believe in me and the work I do; I am forever grateful. Running Head: PI LEADERSHIP STYLE AND COLLABORATION iv Table of