Team science encompasses a wide range of disciplines, such as cognitive psychology, business management, education, and sociology, among others, and explores the ins and outs of group dynamics. It’s a relatively nascent field, but one for which a fair amount of research and observation already exist. Suffice to say, findings on what factors constitute a truly successful team constantly ebb and flow and shift. But the articles out there still warrant reading all the same, and anyone involved in planning and managing teams of all types might want to keep some of their pointers in mind when hoping to accomplish a specific goal.
-
Circumstances mean more than content.
According to team science researcher Alex “Sandy” Pentland at the MIT-based Human Performance Dynamics Laboratory, the cynical old yarn about who you know, not what you know is actually quite true. Test after test after test revealed that “social intelligence” resonates much further than a working knowledge of the material at hand. Painstakingly selecting the right venue, audience, and times prove far more potent indicators of success rather than actually comprehending the subject inside and out, so keep that in mind when planning a promotional or competitive event.
