Shared Leadership in Engineering Teams: A Social Network Analysis of Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Teams

• In Event: Leadership in the Professions

Abstract

There is a continuing call for the development of engineers who can become leaders in helping solve the world’s grand challenges. This paper examines the extent to which the Full Range of Leadership is shared within undergraduate, senior-level engineering capstone design teams and creates a taxonomy of engineering team leadership for further study. Results suggest that leadership is more shared than centralized within capstone design teams. Cluster analysis identifies six distinct types of capstone design teams based on leadership actions, mainly differentiated by specific modes of leadership.

Authors

• Brian Novoselich, U.S. Army

• David Knight, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University