Creating & Maintaining a Productive Research Team

More and more, it is common for researchers to collaborate, developing grants and working on projects together. Given the big problems of our day, bringing together multiple perspectives and areas of expertise makes sense. Yet, researchers often take for granted the work necessary to build and maintain a highly functioning team.

This week, we offer some tips from experts and consultants in team building and team science that can be applied to your research group to improve productivity, creativity, and the experience/benefit of all team members.

Don't draw on your close connections
Research has shown that teams or collaborations that include people with weak connections to each other tend to be the more creative than those with strong connections between team members. Brian Uzzi, Professor of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management attributes this to the diversity of thought and resources that are more likely to be present in a team with weaker connections to one another. So, although it is generally easier to collaborate or draw on the expertise of the usual suspects with whom you have strong relationships, you may be able to create a more dynamic research team drawing on those with whom you have less of a relationship.

Take time for process
Pat Sanaghan (President, The Sanaghan Group) points out that exceptional teams tend to spend about 1/3 of their time on the group's process instead of the task at hand. This open discussion about how the team will work together and what everyone's role will be is important to the success of the team. This does not mean that once you've had an initial discussion about process, you're all set. Checking in with your team to discuss what's working and what's not on an ongoing basis is important in maintaining team health and success.

Define the research problem
One challenge that confronts diverse research teams is getting all investigators on the same page as to what the research problem and project are and how to address it. Dr. Lyall and Dr. Meager with the The Institute for the Study of Science Technology and Innovation (ISSTI) warn that without consensus from the team - you may end up with a multidisciplinary project rather than an interdisciplinary project. Using facilitation tools, such as a Mind Map, to bring your team together to brainstorm and make connections can start your team off in the right direction.


Resources:
Ted Talk: Teaming Up to Drive Science - Brian Uzzi
5 Secrets to Developing a High-Performing Team in Higher Education - Pat Sanaghan and Jillian Lohndorf (Academic Impressions)
A Short Guide to Building and Managing Interdisciplinary Research Teams - ISSTI