Diversity in design teams: an investigation of learning styles and their impact on team performance and innovation

• Autores: Kimberly Lau, Sara L. Beckman, A. M. Agogino
• Localización: The International journal of engineering education, ISSN-e 0949-149X, Vol. 28, no. 2, 2012, págs. 293-301
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • In this paper, we examine the role of diversity in design team performance, and discuss how diversity factors affect the dynamicsand success of a design team. In particular, we focus on diversity in learning styles, as defined by Kolb’s Experiential LearningTheory. We also consider other demographic factors, such as discipline and gender. We present data gathered over two semestersof a multidisciplinary, project-based graduate level design course offered at the University of California at Berkeley. The data werecaptured through a series of surveys administered during the semester, first to collect diversity information on learning styles andstandard demographics, and then to assess team performance as students reflected on their team interactions. We examine andcompare the overall learning style breakdown of students in the class, along with an analysis of the teams. The results of ouranalyses offer insights into how students with different learning styles appear to contribute to design team performance. Weprovide recommendations that will help inform design educators on how to enhance overall team performance and innovation,with an understanding of learning style differences.