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Third challenge: Alignment with stakeholders

At our final check-in with the Post Road team, the team was well-functioning in the “performing” stage and familiarized with each other’s leadership and working styles.

They were now in the position to bring all relevant stakeholders (e.g., capstone advisor, industry sponsor, faculty sponsor) in alignment with the project direction and deliverables. Initially at this near-end stage, the team found they were not quite 100% in alignment with stakeholders. Each stakeholder had a slightly different interpretation of the milestones and final deliverable. …

← Previous: Read about how Post Road Foundation team fostered effective communication

Second challenge: Figuring out coding errors in a timely manner

The communication standards the team established earlier on in the capstone experience (see Part 1) paid dividends in promoting rapport and effective teamwork. Despite the team working in different timezones, being in constant communication helped move the project forward.

At the time of our second check-in, the Post Road team was in the “norming” stage of team development and had worked together for a couple of months already.

The team expressed their main worry at this point was not having enough time to work out the coding errors…

Every year, Berkeley Master of Engineering candidates embark on a two-semester capstone experience where they work with faculty or industry partners to bring solutions to life with engineering skills and leadership practices. The capstone experience program references the five stage model of team development to emphasize that certain challenges are more likely to happen at particular junctures in the team development process.

← Previous: Read about how the Blue Goji team found a work-around their resource constraints

Third challenge: Creating additional value for the industry sponsor

At our final check-in with the Blue Goji team, the team was well-functioning in the “performing” stage and familiarized with each other’s leadership and working styles.

The improved communication (see Part 1) between the sub-teams — Gaming and Data — helped move the project forward. The sub-teams shared regular feedback from each other and were efficient in debugging any arising issues.

However, there was unanticipated lag time with the workarounds identified in the “norming” stage (see Part 2). The team relied on their industry sponsor…

← Previous: Read about how Blue Goji team established task interdependence

Second challenge: Finding alternative resources and solutions

At the time of our second check-in, the Blue Goji team was in the “norming” stage of team development and had worked together for a couple of months already.

Before COVID, Blue Goji teams would have had in-person lab access to a prototype treadmill and would have been able to test their VR games on an elderly user population. Last year’s closures, however, greatly limited campus resources.

However, instead of being hung up on the lack of access to the testing equipment, the team made…

Key decisions in identifying alternatives and *workarounds*:

1. Express major project concerns…

Every year, Berkeley Master of Engineering candidates embark on a two-semester capstone experience where they work with faculty or industry partners to bring solutions to life with engineering skills and leadership practices. The capstone experience program references the five stage model of team development to emphasize that certain challenges are more likely to happen at particular junctures in the team development process.

Each year, the UC Berkeley Master of Engineering (MEng) program admits students from around the world who go on to become leaders in their respective fields. With 43 countries and 257 undergraduate institutions represented in the Class of 2022, the Fung Institute welcomes a student body of technical leaders who come from many different backgrounds and perspectives.

As a result of their time spent in the program, Berkeley MEng students are given the tools they need through effective technical training and leadership development skills in order to become the innovators of tomorrow.

The one-year, full-time class is joined by students…

Each year we celebrate remarkable achievements of our graduates, you can find more about the 2021 capstone awards. Below, we’ve asked the winners and nominees to reflect on their Berkeley MEng capstone experience and how the capstone selection process went for them.

What are the criteria you used to pick your capstone project?

“I wanted to take on a capstone project that I felt could teach me skills that could translate across disciplines as well as have great social impact. Coming from a transportation engineering and planning background, I was immediately interested in my project, as its focus was transportation safety. I saw an opportunity to learn how to develop an…