Managing teams for instructional change: Understanding three types of diversity

Although using teams of change agents to improve undergraduate STEM instruction is a promising strategy, little has been done to investigate how such teams can be structured and managed effectively. In particular, it is unusual for higher education researchers to critically examine the effects of diversity on team processes and outcomes. Here, we explore how three types of diversity-diversity in information, values, and status-are reflected in the literature. We argue that increased attention to the different types of diversity as well as the potential challenges associated with diversity will benefit both researchers and change leaders.