Episode measurement method: a data collection technique for observing team processes

Abstract

Team effectiveness is crucial to the success of a project. It is important to measure the processes that teams perform, in order to evaluate and improve new practices. Results from a mapping study categorizing the measurement methods applied to these processes identify the most popular approaches and the need for first degree observational methods. This paper describes a data collection technique for observing team processes. A case study performed with senior students is set up to validate the method. A questionnaire was submitted to participants to identify issues related to data accuracy. Illustrative analyses demonstrate that the episode measurement method can be used to observe team process patterns. The data from the questionnaire indicate that the method does not pose as a significant threat to the internal validity of a study, and that it is useful for observing the dynamic processes in which teams engage to resolve task demands.