An important ingredient for capstone project success is teamwork. Most, if not all, capstone teams will deal with issues such as poor communication, social loafers, a lack of shared objectives, and an inability to resolve conflicts at various points during the course of a capstone project. In addition to regular instructor mentoring and coaching, team selection appears to play an important role in mitigating such behaviors. In the interest of understanding how team selection might impact team effectiveness in a capstone setting, this paper examines a relatively large population of capstone project teams over multiple semesters using a case study approach across two universities. Team composition factors considered in context of the case studies included the impacts of academic imbalance, dominant personality, personality composition, misaligned interests and disciplinary divergence (i.e., fault lines).
Mark Steiner is Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He currently serves as Director of Engineering Design in the MAE Department. Mark previously served as Director of the O.T. Swanson Multidisciplinary Design Laboratory in the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Professor of Practice in the Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering department from 1999 to 2015. He also worked at GE Corporate from 1987 to 1991, consulting and introducing world-class productivity practices throughout GE operations. In 1991 he joined GE Appliances and led product line structuring efforts resulting in $18 million annual cost savings to the refrigeration business. Later as a design team leader he led product development efforts and the initial 1995 market introduction of the Built-In Style line of GE Profile refrigerators. His last assignment at GE Appliances was in the Office of Chief Engineer in support of GE’s Design for Six Sigma initiative. Dr. Steiner has taught advanced design methods to hundreds of new and experienced engineers. His research interests include; design education, product architecture, mechanical reliability, design for manufacture and quality. Mark graduated from Rensselaer with a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1978 and a Ph.D. in 1987.
Kurt Stresau is an Instructor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences (CECS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He currently serves as the primary Instructor and Coordinator for the MAE Senior Design (Capstone) Program. He has served in this capacity since 2015, prior to which he supported MAE as an Adjunct mentoring Capstone teams since 2012. Mr. Stresau has also taught a variety of Aerospace courses for the MAE Department. Prior to joining UCF, Mr. Stresau was a faculty member at Eastern Florida State College (2006-2012). Mr. Stresau began his industry career in mechanical design and manufacturing (1998), and joined United Space Alliance as an engineer on the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) for the Space Shuttle Program in 2000. In 2004, he transitioned to a senior engineering position in Engineering Integration and Project Management, working with mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, electrical, pyrotechnic, and propulsion subsystems. Mr. Stresau served in that capacity until the completion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011. Mr. Stresau holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida, and a M.S. in Space Systems from the Florida Institute of Technology. Mr. Stresau is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Central Florida.
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