Research report ‘following teams’: A study embedded in the UT Shaping Expert Group ‘Individuals & Teams’

The study discussed in this report was embedded within the Shaping Expert Group ‘Individuals and Teams’ of the University of Twente (UT) and was the continuation of the first study on talent development at UT (Habraken & Bondarouk, 2020). Given the emphasis on talent development within the UT, the shifting importance of considering talent beyond an individual’s contribution, and the recent call from VSNU, NFU, KNAW, NWO and ZonMw (2019), the focus of the study was on team functioning and recognition, of teams and individuals, in the context of the UT. The focus resulted in two research questions, as specified below. The findings are based on observational data (online team meetings) from two research oriented teams as well as conducted interviews. The majority of the data was collected in March of 2021, but some data collection also took place in June 2021. 1. ‘What specific actions/practices enable good functioning of teams at UT?’, This part of the study focused, at action/practice level, on the structures, processes and social aspects that facilitate the fulfilment of the set tasks of a team, and the realisation of a social unit that aids the team to accomplish the set tasks and ensures the welfare of team members 2. ‘In what ways are, or can the efforts of individuals and teams be recognised’?