Working in large teams: Measuring the impact of a teamwork model to facilitate teamwork development in engineering students working in a real project

Teamwork is an essential competency for engineering graduates. Companies use high performing teams to efficiently adapt and meet complex societal demands. In several engineering programs students are expected to work in teams; however, teamwork is seen by most students as a course requirement to get a grade, rather than as a skill they need to master to become effective engineers. The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of students and measure the effectiveness of a teamwork training model used to manage large teams and promote teamwork competencies in engineering students when working on a real senior capstone design project. We used a mixed methods approach. For quantitative data, descriptive and inferential statistics are reported to understand how the students' perceptions about different teamwork constructs changed after the semester concluded. In addition, qualitative data were collected by semi-structured interviews. Results suggest that the teamwork model used to train the students was effective in helping them achieve their desired teamwork competencies and overcome the challenges of working in large teams. Students reported that they felt more ready to face the professional engineering working environment as they now recognize teamwork is a key required competency.