1. Guide To Assessing Teamwork and Collaboration
Teamwork is the concept of people working together toward a common goal.
Collaboration is a structured, recursive process where two or more people work together toward a common goal—typically an intellectual endeavor that is creative
in nature—by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Collaboration does not require leadership and can sometimes bring better results through
decentralization and egalitarianism.
Assess the work using each of the four criteria below:
The team did not define the task Team informally defined the tasks Team clearly defined the tasks to Team has an extensive project
and few members participate but not all members understand be accomplished, assigned management plan that outlines the
participate in the task or
Team members actively
project to accomplish a
actively. There is no follow-up. them so not all members are able aspects to various members and tasks to be accomplished,
to make meaningful contributions. anticipated future needs. The team resources that are needed, due
The follow-up is sporadic. engages in follow-up activities to dates, assigned aspects to various
monitor progress. members and anticipated future
common goal.
needs. The team engages in
regular follow-up activities to
monitor progress and provide
feedback to team members.
Because there is no decision- Decision-making procedures were Clear procedures for making All team members mobilize
Team members participate
making process, individuals make established informally, leading to decisions are established and personal strengths to set forth their
decisions, and they do not reflect inconsistency in implementation clearly articulated. Decisions, the ideas and to negotiate a fit
in decision-making.
the thinking or the desires of the and a failure to involve all process by which they were made, between personal ideas and ideas
team. members in decision-making. and the involvement of members of others, using contrasts to spark
are also clearly articulated. and sustain knowledge
advancement of the entire team,
acknowledging that each member
has a significant role to play and
personal responsibility in decision-
making.
The team seems to be thrashing The team is not always able to When working to achieve goals, Team members know that working
Team adjusts to
about. Activity plans (if they exist) adjust as needed to meet goals. the team is able to adjust plans as to achieve goals requires flexibility
circumstances.
unforeseen
are unfocused, and thus there is Realization of the need for mid- needs arise. There is a clear in thought and action, being
no ability to adjust and make course corrections sometimes understanding of the nature of creatively adaptive, “unfreakable”
corrections. comes too late. mid-course corrections and why in the face of challenging problems
they were needed. and changing situations.
Guide To Assessing Teamwork and Collaboration
2008 Galileo Educational Network
2. The team atmosphere is There is a general atmosphere of Every team member is treated with Team members recognize each
Team members use their diversity to competitive and individualistic respect for team members, but respect. All members listen to all other as legitimate contributors to
rather than cooperative and some members may not be heard ideas. The work of each person is the shared goals; they build on
supportive. as much as others. acknowledged. Members feel free each other’s ideas and take
Acknowledging others' work is to seek assistance from others or responsibility for the overall
serendipitous rather than planned. to ask questions. advancement of knowledge of the
build strength.
Some members may not feel free team. They see diversity as a
to turn to others for help. strength that helps to strengthen
the overall outcomes. Team
members encourage diverse
points of view, openly negotiate
emerging understandings and
provide and accept specific
feedback to and from each other to
improve team processes and
project outcomes.
References:
Conference Board of Canada. Employability Skills 2000+. Retrieved March 25, 2008 from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/education/learning-
tools/pdfs/esp2000.pdf
Conference Board of Canada. Innovation Skills Profile. Retrieved March 25, 2008 from http://www.conferenceboard.ca/education/learning-
tools/pdfs/ISP_brochure.pdf
Sinetar, Marsha. (1991). Developing a 21st century mind. New York: Villard Books.
Guide To Assessing Teamwork and Collaboration
2008 Galileo Educational Network