Teamwork
his document presents a framework for
assessing Teamwork as part of the Adult
Literacy and Lifeskills survey (ALL).
The framework was developed from the
literature on teams and what is currently known
about teamwork. Overall, the framework serves
three purposes. First, it bounds the problem
domain by clearly specifying the critical
components of teamwork to assess. Our goal
here is to target the most fundamental aspects of
teamwork. Second, the framework drives our
approach to measurement. Strategies that are
most effective for assessing team knowledge,
skills, and attitudes will be identified and
selected. Finally, based on the measurement
strategies identified, the framework serves as
the template for item development. Items will
be developed to target key aspects of teamwork
that are specified in this framework.
The framework is divided into five
sections. The first presents a detailed
discussion of the literature on teams and what is
currently known about the knowledge, skills,
and attitudes required for effective team
performance. Here, we present our definition of
a team and clearly delineate the core facets of
teamwork. Rather than including all variables,
we present the core dimensions that characterize
what teams do. These dimensions are assumed
to be central to all teams, regardless of culture.
In the second section, we draw on the
results of our literature review to build a model
of teamwork. The purpose of this model is to
identify key areas for measurement in ALL. In
particular, we propose that the teamwork
measure should assess what team members
bring to a team (e.g., attitudes, past experience,
etc.) and what team members do in a team (e.g.,
interact, coordinate, etc.).
Our proposed framework is intended to
target the most fundamental aspects of
teamwork and recognizes that the primary goal
of the teamwork measure is not to assess
differences in culture. Nonetheless, given the
interpersonal nature of teamwork, we
anticipate cultural differences. The third
section of this framework addresses this issue.
In particular, relevant cultural research is
reviewed, and the implications of these studies
are discussed in light of our objective (i.e.,
measuring team knowledge, skills, and
attitudes internationally).
Once the key facets of teamwork are
identified and the possible effects of culture
are discussed, the fourth section of this
framework presents specific strategies for
measuring teamwork. We first present the
theoretical and practical assumptions that
guide our approach. Next, we describe each
proposed teamwork measure with respect to
the measurement approach employed, the
process by which items were developed, and
the procedures for scoring.
Finally, the fifth section of this
framework briefly discusses social and
economic indicators that may affect
teamwork. Here, variables are proposed for
the respondent background questionnaire.
Information on these variables, which are
expected to moderate participant responses on
the teamwork measure, should also provide
insights into the determinants of teamwork in
different nations.