Issue 3
Vol. 41
1999

Group Effectiveness in Design Practice: Analysis and Training by a Critical-Situation-Approach
Petra Badke-Schaub

In the research project "Teamwork in Engineering Design", engineers and psychologists are currently examining team processes in engineering design in industry (Frankenberger & Badke-Schaub, 1998). Several non-technical factors show great influence on the effectiveness of design processes: the individual prerequisites, the prerequisites of the group and the organizational characteristics. In order to understand their complex interrelations, a method is required to compile and connect the data obtained on the different factors. In this contribution, the observation and evaluation of team design processes will be outlined. Secondly, the question of how to use this knowledge will be answered by introducing a training method teaching engineering designers to consciously reflect their work through learning about their own way of processing information and about group processes. They should then - to a certain extent - be capable of modifying inadequate strategies and strengthen successful strategies.

Key words: group processes, group effectiveness, engineering design, teams in industry, critical situations, training, self-reflection, solution search, decision making

Psychologische Beiträge, Volume 41, 1999, p. 338-355

Dr. Petra Badke-Schaub
Insitut für Theoretische Psychologie
Universität Bamberg
Markusplatz 3
D-96045 Bamberg
Germany
E-mail: petra.badke-schaub@ppp.uni-bamberg.de