| The purpose of this study was to determine which aspect of instilling team-based learning is acquired by five teams of technical aerospace employees after ten modules of training. The study was to evaluate the employees' application of Team Tool Training (TTT) on the job as assessed by an expert observer, the managers of the five teams, and all the team members.;The major conclusion was that the training modules influenced the employee behavior on the job. Observations of 20 team meetings revealed that most of the employees and all the managers demonstrated the key characteristics of the TTT. Employee interviews indicated that all employees consciously were applying the training to their group efforts. Manager interviews described their teams as highly functioning. All teams had developed a vision statement that was conspicuously in view at every team meeting. All teams met on a weekly basis---the minimum requirement---but four of the five teams met more frequently. One team briefly met on a daily basis. However, frequency of team meetings did appear to relate to higher implementation of other TTT characteristics.;Analysis of the manager and employee interviews revealed that good communication by all individual team members is the key to the success of teaming within the company. Further analysis indicated that ESL employees reported a lack of understanding of new concepts when they are presented verbally, over the preferred visuals and graphics. Finally, the findings suggest that smaller sized teams demonstrate more desired team characteristics. Small teams seemed to promote more active communication among team members; each team member of small teams reported the importance of his input into the problem-solving situation. In addition, observations supported that team-building works effectively when the team's manager positively reinforces the team's efforts.;Employees were administered an assessment instrument following the ten training modules. Their scores suggested that employees perceived that they had acquired a moderate comprehension of team key characteristics. However, employee interviews indicated that they rated 64% of the assessment items as "did not understand," but that the training modules were useful. It is recommended that the Team Effectiveness Assessment instrument be revised. |
