3  Module 1: Foundations of Team Science (30 minutes)

Facilitators: Christine Velez, Grace González, The Evaluation Center, and Bridge Center

3.1 Content Block: What Makes Teams Work (15 minutes)

3.1.1 Opening Hook (3 minutes)

Say: “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been part of a collaboration that felt effortless and productive.” [Pause for hands] “Keep your hand up if you’ve been part of one that was frustrating or unproductive.” [Usually more hands go up]

Transition: “Today we’re going to unpack why some collaborations soar while others struggle, using evidence from the science of team science itself.”

3.1.2 Key Message 1: The Collaboration Imperative (4 minutes)

Data to Share:

  • 2007 study of 19.9 million papers showed teams produce higher-impact research
  • Nobel Prize data: 42% of physics prizes since 2000 went to collaborations
  • NIH success rates higher for multi-PI grants in many programs

Discussion Prompt: “What drives this trend toward collaboration in your field?”

Listen for: Complexity of problems, resource needs, interdisciplinary requirements, technology demands

Bridge: “But collaboration isn’t automatically better - it has to be done well.”

3.1.3 Key Message 2: When Teams Fail (4 minutes)

Common Failure Modes (present as bullets on slide):

  • Coordination loss: Too much time spent organizing, not enough creating
  • Social loafing: Some members contribute less in group settings
  • Groupthink: Pressure for consensus stifles critical thinking
  • Unresolved process conflict: Disagreements about how to work together
  • Goal misalignment: Different objectives or success metrics

Facilitator Note: Don’t dwell on failures - this sets up the solution-focused content ahead.

3.1.4 Key Message 3: Success Factors (4 minutes)

The IMPACT Framework:

  • Interdependence: Members need each other to succeed
  • Motivation: Shared purpose and individual engagement
  • Processes: Clear workflows and communication protocols
  • Abilities: Complementary skills and expertise
  • Culture: Trust, psychological safety, inclusion norms
  • Tools: Infrastructure for collaboration and data sharing

Facilitator Tip: This framework threads through the entire training - refer back to it throughout.

3.2 Activity 1: Team Science Assessment (15 minutes)

3.2.1 Individual Reflection (5 minutes)

Instructions to Give: “Think of a research collaboration you’ve been part of - current or recent. Rate it on these six dimensions using a 1-5 scale, where 1 is ‘major weakness’ and 5 is ‘major strength.’ Be honest - this is for your learning.”

Dimensions to Rate:

  1. Clear shared goals: Everyone understood what we were trying to achieve
  2. Complementary expertise: Team had the right mix of skills and knowledge
  3. Effective communication: Information flowed well, meetings were productive
  4. Equitable participation: All voices were heard, contributions were valued
  5. Conflict resolution: We handled disagreements constructively
  6. Resource sharing: Data, materials, and tools were accessible to team members

Facilitator Actions:

  • Walk around, but don’t look over shoulders
  • Give 1-minute and 30-second warnings
  • Model reflection by jotting your own notes

3.2.2 Small Group Discussion (5 minutes)

Instructions: “Form groups of 4-5. Each person shares: 1. One area where your team was strongest (highest score) 2. One area that was most challenging (lowest score) 3. Don’t name the team or people - focus on the dynamics”

Your Role:

  • Visit each group briefly, listen for patterns
  • Note common strengths and challenges on your notepad
  • Prepare to synthesize themes in debrief

Listen for These Patterns:

  • Strengths: Often include shared excitement about the problem, clear expertise divisions, strong PI leadership
  • Challenges: Frequently communication breakdowns, unclear roles, data sharing difficulties, conflict avoidance

3.2.3 Debrief (5 minutes)

Process:

  1. “What themes did you hear in your groups about team strengths?”
  2. “What about common challenges?”
  3. Capture responses on flipchart/screen
  4. “Great - we’re going to address many of these challenges directly in our time together”

Transition: “Let’s start with one of the most commonly cited issues: communication.”