The choice between working in small or large teams often depends on the project. Small teams can offer advantages such as streamlined communication, a sense of cohesion, and faster decision-making. On the other hand, large teams bring diverse perspectives, a broader skill set, and the ability to handle more extensive projects but may face challenges in coordination and communication.

Regarding working with individuals with different backgrounds, and areas of expertise, there are both advantages and disadvantages. Diverse backgrounds can enrich the creative process, bring a variety of ideas, and lead to more innovative solutions. However, reaching agreements on a final decision may be more challenging due to differing perspectives. Effective communication is crucial in scenarios like this to ensure cohesiveness and a good final product. 

Personally, I like to work in large groups that are broken up into smaller groups. You have a large number of individuals with different ideas and skills to work on the project but within the group, it is split each component of the project into smaller groups to have more decisive discussions. Also, I enjoy working with individuals from various backgrounds because it allows for more innovative ideas, and when coming up with a final solution, it brings a larger variety of ideas and helps you think in ways you may not have before.

I think it depends. You definitely want a subject matter expert from all departments. If you get a couple from the same, you will probably see some conflicting perspectives. But, these are important. Having different perspectives, will probably lead to some possible innovations. It is also possible they could also produce non value added activity. However, generally speaking, the more the merrier. 

I believe there are both advantages and disadvantages in having a larger or smaller team. In my opinion, smaller teams tend to have more efficient communication due to the lack of member you need to reach out to. I also feel like its easier to understand the strengths and weaknesses of every member due to team size, making it easier to delegate tasks to those proficient in that area of expertise. Some drawbacks I can associate with smaller teams is overworking. Burnout is more likely to happen due to high workloads. Larger teams are usually more able to take on bigger workloads by splitting work evenly.

I think that the success of working in large or small groups and with people from different backgrounds depends on the particular project, its objectives and the dynamics of the team. Some of the advantages of working in smaller project teams may include improved communication and collaboration between team members, increased sense of accountability, and less time-consuming decision making.Additionally, some disadvantages of working in small project teams may include limited diversity of skills that team members may have, and the workload may be concentrated on a few people. Personally, I prefer working in larger project teams because they have better skills to tackle complex problems and you can find different skill sets and expertise among team members. However, working in larger project groups has some drawbacks, such as the communication and coordination challenges that can arise between team members.

I think that with different backgrounds, we have different perspectives. As a result, it is a lot harder to reach a mutual conclusion. That is normal and to be expected. I do not really see a problem with that though. It might take longer and take more conversations to reach a conclusion, though. 

In my opinion I think it all depends on each individual project and what you are tasked to do. There are times in research where a project involves a long and redundant process that must be done, whether it is formatting code or observing a robot completing a task. These are not projects that I feel would need a group to be completed since it is very automated. However, in the other case there are situations where a project is given and there are no instructions in sight, as it is with most situations. In these cases I feel it is absolutely necessary to bring a diverse group together to discuss and create a solution. It is important to diversify the group because you will have input from all angles. A mechanical engineer would only be an expert in their field similar to how a software engineer would be in theirs. People might not think you need that many voices on a project, but in the long run your solution will be one that thinks for everyone and covers all bases.

Of course, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some people thrive in smaller groups and some in larger ones. Just as an interesting tidbit, I remember learning in my psychology class that diad relationships (2 persons) are the most unstable, triads (3 persons) being more stable than diads, but tetrads (4 persons) were less stable than triad groups. The results became more inconsistent as the group size number increased. Nonetheless, it's definitely true that the size of the group will impact the dynamic within it. In my personal experience, I've found that team sizes between 5-12 people are really productive environments and the group is large enough that everyone can find a close friend, but it's not so large that the greater groups begins to form small cliques.  

I think that there are always obstacles with working with people from different backgrounds/professions, which can make it sometimes difficult to communicate concepts or needs. Yet, I would hope that my colleagues similarly want what is best for the product and company to move forward without compromising integrity or quality. 

I prefer to work independently when possible, so when working in teams, I definitely favor a smaller-sized dynamic. Being apart of a smaller team that is comprised of people from various backgrounds is most suitable for me, as it allows for closer collaboration, while also maintaining a wide team skill set. When making a decision about a product, I think that working with someone with a different background may not always be easier, but it is the most effective way to ensure you're creating the best possible product. Having input from someone with a different perspective and experiences is always necessary and valuable. Being able to compromise with this person and find a common ground between differing opinions may be difficult, but it ultimately ensures the utmost success of the product.