Process Variables Critical for Team Effectiveness

Abstract

Recent school reform movements emphasize collaborative teaming for the successful inclusion and education of diverse student populations in schools. The purpose of this study was to identify and validate a list of critical process variables that support team efforts and effectiveness. Wraparound team members from a large midwestern state, identified as experts in teaming, participated through Delphi procedures in two rounds of response. Twenty nominated experts rated 109 items across six categories: team goals, team member roles and team membership, team communication, team cohesion, team logistics, and team outcomes. Results indicated that items in the categories team outcomes, team goals, and team cohesion were ranked most critical to team effectiveness. The final list of critical process variables can be used to guide community and school-based teams in establishing, monitoring, and evaluating their teams.