Final answer:
Assemble a team that can work together effectively and efficiently, using diverse skills and good communication. Engineering projects, especially complex ones, require collaboration among large, international teams. Despite individual skill advantages, teamwork is necessary for practical and efficient project completion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The secret of a successful team, according to Dean Kamen, is not to assemble the largest team possible, but rather to assemble a team that can work together efficiently and effectively. In the realm of engineering, successful projects often require the collaboration of diverse teams with different specializations and skills. Factors such as identifying the right team members, building trust through good communication, and possessing effective negotiation skills are vital to advance collaborative projects and to prevent and manage disputes and conflicts. This approach involves being open, forthcoming, and transparent in interactions, while also being careful not to overwhelm the team with excessive contributions. Although a single team member, like the hypothetical Jethro in the camping scenario, may be highly skilled across all tasks, it is not practical or efficient to have that person do all the work. We see this especially as engineered systems have become more complex, requiring contributions from large, internationally distributed teams, as opposed to the smaller groups or individuals that were common during the Industrial Revolution