Lifting the veil on teamwork: evidence from students’ and employers’ perspectives

Abstract

This multistrand study adds to the limited research evidence about business students’ perceptions of their team experience in Higher Education and employers’ description of the teamwork skills expected of graduates entering professional employment. A sequential mixed methods research design was utilised to, firstly, examine teacher-controlled variables of the learning environment that students perceive as influencing their teamworking ability development and overall satisfaction with the team experience. Secondly, students’ and employers’ conceptualisations of teamwork were explored; particularly the individually-held skills that make a team successful. Overall, the findings led to a revision of the conceptual model devised from available literature on teamwork and effectiveness.