On December 1, 2017 Dr. Crystal Han will present an MSMSE Seminar Series entitled “How to Successfully Manage STEM Project Teams: Emergence of Shared Leadership Dynamics during Engineering Student Design Projects”
Due to the complexity of many engineering problems, engineers often work in interdisciplinary project teams. In outstanding performing teams, every voice is heard and every point of view is taken into consideration. These teams synthesize all members’ resources and weave them into a creative solution; ultimately, members share the leadership. However, most teams are average or mediocre in their performance and therefore need improved skills for teamwork. As an extension of team performance, contemporary workplaces generally require all STEM graduates to be well equipped with teamwork and leadership skills. Therefore, the main purpose of this seminar is to untangle the construct of shared leadership and identify its different dimensions in those engineering student teams operating without formal leaders. We will discuss the patterns of how the different dimensions of shared leadership emerge during teamwork processes. More research on shared leadership is necessary to better understand the way different types of leadership behaviors intertwine to determine the quality of the team’s process.
Soo Jeoung “Crystal” Han is an Assistant Professor in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) program in the College of Engineering at Boise State University. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Educational Human Resource Development at Texas A&M University. Her research interests include the field of virtual team collaboration, growth mindset in teams, cross-cultural team management, shared leadership development of teams, and global and women executive leadership.