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. 2021 Aug 9;5(1):e166.
doi: 10.1017/cts.2021.831. eCollection 2021.

Developing and evaluating a team development intervention to support interdisciplinary teams

Susan E Morgan  1 , Alexandra Mosser  2 , Soyeon Ahn  3 , Tyler R Harrison  1 , Jue Wang  3 , Qian Huang  4 , Ashley Reynolds  4 , Bingjing Mao  4 , John L Bixby  5
Affiliations

Developing and evaluating a team development intervention to support interdisciplinary teams

Susan E Morgan et al. J Clin Transl Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Incentivizing the development of interdisciplinary scientific teams to address significant societal challenges usually takes the form of pilot funding. However, while pilot funding is likely necessary, it is not sufficient for successful collaborations. Interdisciplinary collaborations are enhanced when team members acquire competencies that support team success.

Methods: We evaluated the impact of a multifaceted team development intervention that included an eight-session workshop spanning two half-days. The workshop employed multiple methods for team development, including lectures on empirically supported best practices, skills-based modules, role plays, hands-on planning sessions, and social interaction within and across teams. We evaluated the impact of the intervention by (1) asking participants to assess each of the workshop sessions and (2) by completing a pre/postquestionnaire that included variables such as readiness to collaborate, goal clarity, process clarity, role ambiguity, and behavioral trust.

Results: The content of the team development intervention was very well received, particularly the workshop session focused on psychological safety. Comparison of survey scores before and after the team development intervention indicated that scores on readiness to collaborate and behavioral trust were significantly higher among participants who attended the workshop. Goal clarity, process clarity, and role ambiguity did not differ among those who attended versus those who did not.

Conclusions: Multicomponent team development interventions that focus on key competencies required for interdisciplinary teams can support attitudes and cognitions that the literature on the science of team science indicate are predictive of success. We offer recommendations for the design of future interventions.

Keywords: Team science; interdisciplinary teams; team development; workshop evaluation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Team science workshop content.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Participants’ ratings on Day 1 sessions: overall assessments. Session 1: An overview of the empirical evidence supporting best practices for team science Session 2: Self-assessment quiz and the establishment of your team’s rules Session 3: Tech platforms for project management and knowledge management options Session 4: Psychological safety exercise: What you should know about me/my discipline
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Participants’ ratings on Day 1 sessions: perceived usefulness. Session 1: An overview of the empirical evidence supporting best practices for team science Session 2: Self-assessment quiz and the establishment of your team’s rules Session 3: Tech platforms for project management and knowledge management options Session 4: Psychological safety exercise: What you should know about me/my discipline
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Participants’ ratings on Day 1 sessions: influence on teams’ work. Session 1: An overview of the empirical evidence supporting best practices for team science Session 2: Self-assessment quiz and the establishment of your team’s rules Session 3: Tech platforms for project management and knowledge management options Session 4: Psychological safety exercise: What you should know about me/my discipline
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Participants’ ratings on Day 2 sessions: overall assessments. Session 1: Keynote address by external team science expert Session 2: The importance of a team charter; creating your team’s charter Session 3: Communication behaviors that predict interdisciplinary team success; role play Session 4: U-LINK team’s calendar of activities; discussing your next steps Session 5: Presentation of U-LINK Resources
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Participants’ ratings on Day 2 sessions: Perceived usefulness. Session 1: Keynote address by external team science expert Session 2: The importance of a team charter; creating your team’s charter Session 3: Communication behaviors that predict interdisciplinary team success; role play Session 4: U-LINK team’s calendar of activities; discussing your next steps Session 5: Presentation of U-LINK Resources
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Participants’ ratings on Day 2 sessions: influence on teams’ work. Session 1: Keynote address by external team science expert Session 2: The importance of a team charter; creating your team’s charter Session 3: Communication behaviors that predict interdisciplinary team success; role play Session 4: U-LINK team’s calendar of activities; discussing your next steps Session 5: Presentation of U-LINK Resources
Fig. 8.
Fig. 8.
Impact of team development intervention on readiness to collaborate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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