Not only that, researchers who collaborate with colleagues from different disciplines often have the best opportunities for funding. Teams can be distinguished from other aggregates of individuals in that they are characterized by collaboration and interdependence. Members develop a common language, communicate openly with one another, share leadership and responsibility, make decisions by consensus, and rely on one another s differing knowledge bases and skills to accomplish goals and objectives. The team functions as a feedback system. It sets goals, develops and implements a plan, evaluates outcomes, and fine-tunes the plan to improve results.
Some teams function well.
The members work well together, get the job done, and feel pride and satisfaction in their work. Other teams get bogged down by lack of organizational support, poor team organization and leadership, or problems with individual members of the team such as conflicts among members, limited commitment to one another or the assignment, or refusal to participate in completing a task. If a group project is to be meaningful to students, faculty members need to ensure that students understand the dynamics of teamwork and actually work as a team. First, make sure the assignment or project requires teamwork. Third, have students work in their groups the next two class sessions to get to know one another, gain a shared understanding of the assignment, and establish rules and procedures.