January 16, 2014 — Interdisciplinary collaboration is like a colonoscopy – though important and instructive, it can also be a real pain in the behind.
“We need pooled interdisciplinary expertise to solve real life problems,” a recent article in SciDevNet notes, “but experts can clash over language, divergent perspectives and knowledge gaps. Recognizing these barriers — and discussing how to overcome them — is crucial.”
Jessica Thompson, assistant professor of environmental and organizational communication at Northern Michigan University and author of the piece, argues that challenges arise because each discipline has its own language, theories and practices. Without deliberate efforts to acknowledge and accommodate them, these distinctions can hamper progress toward mutual goals.
Thompson goes on to offer concrete advice for overcoming those barriers. Among her tips:
- Acknowledge and clarify at the outset differences in terms, definitions and jargon
- Accept and accommodate perspectives that vary due to discipline, culture, nationality or gender
- Trust others’ expertise in their fields
- Make time for team building
- Be open to new thinking and viewpoints
- Decide as a group how you will share your work.
Learn more at “How to Communicate in an Interdisciplinary Team.”
Photo courtesy of Jeff Tabaco (Creative Commons | Flickr)
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