Exploration of Teamwork in Extension: Identifying Indicators of Success Using a Modified Delphi Stud

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Exploration of Teamwork in Extension
Identifying Indicators of Success Using a
Modified Delphi Study

• The Ohio State University
• Department of Human and Community Resource
  Development
• Beverly Kelbaugh, Ph.D.
• Extension Agent, Franklin County

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Exploring Extension Program Teams

• Purpose of Study
• To identify indicators of success of Extension
  program teams in order to use these items to
  develop a standard for measuring team success, to
  assess individual contributions to a team and
  incorporate a persons contribution to a team in
  their individual performance review

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Problem Statement
Teams are an effective way to address clientele
needs and current issues. The need for continued
support of the team approach and the need for
teams to succeed in order to address current
clientele issues has been well documented. Baker
Verma, 1993 Boone, 1990 DeVries, 1997
Fehlis, 1992 Henson, 1987 Holder, 1990Ukaga,
et.al, 2002 and Yeates, 1990.
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Justification of Study

• Importance of teamwork today
• Diversity and number of teams within
  University Extension Systems
• Teams in the college are important
• as a means of
• improving customer satisfaction
• improving productivity
• improving quality of products and services
• (Gross, 1995 Johnson, 1993)

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Justification of Study cont.

• Teams in and across colleges and other
  organizations may help by
• Increasing staff flexibility
• Streamlining overall personnel
• Improving employee satisfaction
• (Zobal Wilkins, 1998)

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Background of Teams in OSU Extension
Teams introduced in the mid 1980s
Success of teamwork in business and
industry Seeking ways to meet clientele needs in
a changing environment. Serving internal and
external clientele with high quality programs and
products Teamwork as an effective way to work
supported in the College of Agriculture, Food and
Environmental Sciences Project Reinvent strategic
planning processes
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Research Questions

• This descriptive survey research design was
  designed to identify critical indicators of
  success of Extension program teams.
• To identify indicators of success perceived by
  experts as fulfilling the goals of the team

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Population and Sample

• A purposeful sample of experts on teamwork in
  Extension from across the United States
• 25 individuals nominated by Extension Directors
  comprised a panel of experts deemed as
  knowledgeable individuals and were from all
  levels of Extension organizations.

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Methodology

• A multi-phase modified Delphi study
• Initial items were based on the literature on
  teamwork
• Zoomerang an internet service for business and
  individual surveys was utilized to collect
  participant responses to three rounds
• Zoomerang allowed for the data to be recorded and
  analyzed in real time and allowed results to be
  anonymously shared with participants.

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Steps to Success

• Panel of experts to
• Define and rate critical indicators of team
  success

• Content and Face Validity Panel to examine
  instruments for
• Face validity
• Content validity
• Research Sounding Board
• Review Round II and Round III statements

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Methodology

• Content and face validity of the team indicators
  used in round one were field tested with a review
  panel of six OSU Extension Faculty
• Instrument II and III were developed based on
  responses to the previous instruments.
• Consensus was achieved on an item when 80 of the
  ratings from the Delphi panel of experts,
  responding to each questionnaire, fell within two
  rating categories on the six point Likert-type
  scale (Ulschak, 1983)

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Critical Indicators of Success

• Evidence that team members are committed to the
  work of the team and follow through with agreed
  upon roles and responsibilities
• A clear vision of where the team is going and
  agreed upon and understood goals
• The impact of programs delivered to clientele
• An established process for communication among
  team members that allows for efficient and open
  information sharing in a timely manner

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Indicators of Success with High Importance

• Team members engaged in ongoing learning
  opportunities to enhance their skills and
  knowledge related to the work of the team
• Evidence that the team members have a clear
  understanding of their role and the roles of
  other team members
• Team members practice a respectful and caring
  way of working together

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High Success Indicators cont.

• The personal and professional satisfaction of
  team members with the team
• The quality of subject matter publications
• Established processes for conducting the business
  of the team assure follow through and good
  communication before during and following team
  meetings

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High Success Indicators cont.

• Team members ability to utilize team
  contributions in the promotion and tenure process
  or for yearly performance reviews
• Regularly reviewing goals and measuring
  attainment of those goals
• Reporting team accomplishments in an appropriate
  and timely manner to immediate supervisors and
  administration.
• An established method of reproting outocmes to
  the teams stakeholders

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High Success Indicators cont.

• Generating and utilizing evaluation data on
  inservices, workshops and seminars
• Team members being recognized for their
  contribution to the body of knowledge which is
  related to the teams area of expertise
• Utilize a team coach or organizational leader as
  an advocate of the teams accomplishments and
  organizational importance
• Documenting and analyzing participants level of
  satisfaction with information provided on teams
  website and in newsletters or other publications

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High Success Indicators cont.

• Team secures external funding when needed and
  considered appropriate
• Team develops quality publications in response to
  identified needs
• Team agrees upon decision making methods
• The use of technology to share the teams
  research and scholarly activity and enhance
  timely communication in a cost effective manner
• When appropriate and meaningful, team documents
  environmental and ecological impact of its work
  and scholarly activity

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High Success Indicators cont

• Team should have an agreed upon method for
  resolving conflict

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Moderate Level Success Indicator

• Team and or individual team members share their
  expertise at national meetings

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Organizational Readiness and Support for Teams

• Ongoing learning opportunities to enhance skills
  and knowledge related to the work of the team
• Technology needs of teams to conduct applied
  research, and other work of the team
• Technology required to share results of applied
  research, and disseminate results.

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Organizational Expectations of Teams

• Teams need to periodically review their
  performance in relationship to both their vision
  and goals as well as those of the organization.

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Performance Appraisal of Teams and Team Members

• Importance of team members ability to utilize
  team contributions in the promotion and tenure
  process
• A persons contribution to teamwork must be a
  part of annual performance appraisal
• Reporting systems must support team reports
• Persons providing reviews must be trained to
  value and assess contributions to teamwork

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Team Member Behaviors

• The success of teams seems dependent upon team
  member skills and team processes
• Communications
• Decision making
• Resolving conflict
• Information sharing
• Member interactions
• Leadership

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Team Programming

• Quality of subject matter publications
• Documenting and analyzing participant level of
  satisfaction
• Impact of programs delivered to clientele
• Importance of providing training and support to
  Extension team members to develop effective
  teaching strategies, program evaluation
  techniques and cutting edge technology for
  program development and dissemination.

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Recommendations for Extension

• Create a vision and culture conducive to
  developing and supporting teams
• Implement organizational policies and guidelines
  to support teams
• Provide team development or teambuilding
  activities for team leaders and team members
• Integrate the indicators of success for team
  performance measurements into the criteria for
  performance appraisal and promotion and tenure
  guidelines

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Recommendations for
Extension

• Require training for assistant directors,
  specialists, district directors, department
  chairs and county office chair persons acting as
  supervisors of other Extension program faculty to
  help them understand, foster and assess team
  efforts.
• OSU Extension administration should review the
  indicators not gaining consensus to determine if
  there are additional indicators essential to Ohio
  based upon its unique needs or circumstances

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Thank you for serving on my Committee

• Jo M. Jones, Ed.D.
• OSU Extension - Employee Development Network
• Associate Professor Food, Agriculture, and
  Environmental Sciences - HCRD
• Garee W. Earnest, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor - OSU Extension
  Administration
• Program Leader - OSU Leadership Center
• Barbara G. Ludwig, Ph.D.
• Professor OSU Extension Associate Director