Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction to Crossdisciplinary Collaboration: Definitions, Systems, and the Brain

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
A Practical Guide for Developing Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Skills

  • 199 Accesses

Abstract

Collaboration is about the co-creation of a vision/goal to which all members of the collective group have contributed. Collaboration is about building relationships among team members, all of whom bring something of value to the team. Building relationships takes time. They emerge and evolve as team members share responsibilities and contribute to decision-making. Leveraging the power of the brain enhances the effectiveness of collaboration. The use of processes to create an environment in which people feel they belong, are included, and are psychologically safe enhances collaboration. Questions are powerful tools in collaborative teams. They promote learning, the exchange of ideas, and knowledge creation about problems or challenges. Keeping questions at the forefront of a collaborative team during its creation and evolution will create a learning environment in which all group members can learn from each other and create together.

In the longer run and for wide-reaching issues, more creative solutions tend to come from imaginative interdisciplinary collaboration. Robert J. Shiller

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Andreatta B (2018) Wired to connect: the brain science of teams and a new model for creating collaboration and inclusion. 7th Mind Publishing. Santa Barbara, CA

    Google Scholar 

  2. Andreatta B (2019) Wired to grow: harness the power of brain science to learn and master any skill. 7th Mind Publishing. Santa Barbara, CA

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bammer G (2013) Disciplining interdisciplinarity: integration and implementation sciences for researching complex real-world problems, ANU E-Press, Canberra. ISBN: 9781922144270 (pbk.) 9781922144287 (ebook). https://press.anu.edu.au/titles/disciplining-interdisciplinarity

  4. Bell ST, Brown SG, Colaneri A, Outland N (2018) Team composition and the ABCs of teamwork. Am Psychol 73(4):349–362. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000305

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Blanchette Sarrasin J, Brault Foisy L, Allaire-Duquette G, Masson S (2020) Understanding your brain to help you learn better. Front Young Minds 8:54. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2020.00054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Cairns R, Hielscher S, Light A (2020) Collaboration, creativity, conflict, and chaos: Doing interdisciplinary sustainability research. Sustain Sci 15:1711–1721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00784-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Camillus JC (2008) Summary - strategy as a wicked problem. harvard business review https://hbr.org/2008/05/strategy-as-a-wicked-problem. Last View: June 2022

  8. O’Rourke M, Rinkus MA, Cardenas E, McLeskey C (This Volume) Communication practice for team science

    Google Scholar 

  9. Clark TR (2020) The 4 stages of psychological safety: defining the path to inclusion and innovation. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Oakland, CA

    Google Scholar 

  10. Driskell JE, Salas E, Driskell T (2018) Foundations of teamwork and collaboration. Am Psychol 73(4):334–348. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Edmonson A (1999) Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Adm Sci Q 44(2):350–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Edmondson AC (2003) Managing the risk of learning: psychological safety in work teams. In: West Michael A, Tjosvold D, Smith KG (eds) International handbook of organizational teamwork and cooperative working. New York, Wiley, pp 255–275. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.118.1943. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470696712.ch13. ISBN 9780470696712

  13. Edmondson AC, Lei Z (2014) Psychological safety: the history, renaissance, and future of an interpersonal construct. Annu Rev Organ Psych Organ Behav 1:23–43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Elliott MA (2007) Stigmergic collaboration; a theoretical framework for mass collaboration. Ph.D. Dissertation. Centre for Ideas. Victorian College of the Arts. The University of Melbourne. Melbourne, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  15. Elliott M (2016) Stigmergic collaboration: a framework for understanding and designing mass collaboration. In: Mass collaboration and education. Cress U, Moskaliuk J, Jeong H. (Eds) Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series. Springer, pp 65–83 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13536-6

  16. Friend M, Cook L (1996) Interactions: collaboration skills of school professionals. In: 2nd ed. White Plains, New York. Newer addition 7th. Pearson (2012). ISBN: 978-0132774925

    Google Scholar 

  17. Fiore SM, Wiltshire TJ (2016) Technology as teammate: examining the role of external cognition in support of team cognitive processes. Front Psychol 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01531

  18. Gosselin D (2015) Focus on them: a mindset revolution for coaches, educators, and business leaders. Aloha Publishing. Eagle, Idaho. ISBN: 978-1-61206-113-9

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gosselin DC (This Volume)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Gosselin D, Thompson K, Pennington D, Vincent S (2020) Learning to be an interdisciplinary researcher: incorporating training about dispositional and epistemological differences into graduate student environmental science teams. J Environ Stud Sci 10(3):310–326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-020-00605-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Guimarãesa MH, Pohlb C, Binac O, Varandae M (2019) Who is doing inter- and transdisciplinary research, and why? an empirical study of motivations, attitudes, skills, and behaviours. Futures 112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2019.102441

  22. Hall KL, Vogel AL, Huang GC, Serrano KJ, Rice EL, Tsakraklides SP, Fiore SM (2018) The science of team science: a review of the empirical evidence and research gaps on collaboration in science. Am Psychol 73(4):532–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000319

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hall KI, Vogel AL, Croyle AT (2020) Strategies for team science success: handbook of evidence-based principles for crossdisciplinary science and practical lessons learned from health researchers. Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-20992-6 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20992-6

  24. Hammond Z (2015) Culturally responsive teaching and the brain; promoting authentic engagement and rigor among culturally and linguistically diverse students. Corwin – A SAGE Company. Thousand Oaks, CA

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hanson R (2013) Hardwiring happiness: the new brain science of contentment, calm, and confidence. Harmony Book, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  26. Harris Z (2014) The neuroscience of building teams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxqqi1dd_UA. Last Viewed October 2022

  27. Marks MA, Mathieu JE, Zaccaro SJ (2001) A temporally based framework and taxonomy of team processes. Acad Manag Rev 26:356–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Mathieu JF, Wolfson MA, Park S (2018) The evolution of work team research since hawthorne. Am Psychol 73(4):308–321

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Merriam-Webster.com (2022) Teamwork. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teamwork. Accessed 16 Dec 2022

  30. National Research Council (NRC, 2014) Convergence: facilitating transdisciplinary integration of life sciences. Phys Sci Eng Beyond. https://doi.org/10.17226/18722

  31. National Research Council (2015) Enhancing the effectiveness of team science: committee on the science of team science. In: Cooke NJ, Hilton ML (eds) The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  32. O’Rourke M, Crowley SJ (2013) Philosophical intervention and crossdisciplinary science. Story Toolbox Proj Synthese 190:1937–1954. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-012-0175-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Owens MT, Tanner KD (2017) Teaching as brain changing: exploring connections between neuroscience and innovative teaching. CBE—Life Sci Educ 16:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.17-01-0005

  34. Pennington DD (2016) A conceptual model for knowledge integration in interdisciplinary teams: Orchestrating individual learning and group processes. J Environ Stud Sci 6(2):300–312. https://rdcu.be/6Cip. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-015-0354-5

  35. Pennington DD, Bammer G., Danielson A, Gosselin D, Gouvea J, Habron G, Hawthorne D, Parnell R, Thompson K, Vincent S, Wei C (2016) The EMBeRS project: employing model-based reasoning in socio-environmental synthesis. J Environ Stud Sci 6(2):278–286. https://rdcu.be/6CwZ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-015-0335-8

  36. Pennington D, Vincent S, Gosselin D, Thompson K (2021) Learning across disciplines in socio-environmental problem framing. Soc-Environ Syst Model 3:17895. https://doi.org/10.18174/sesmo.2021a17895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Rittel HW, Webber MM (1973) Dilemmas in a general theory of planning. Policy Sci 4(2):155–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Schulz-Hardt S, Brodbeck FC, Mojzisch A, Kerschreiter R, Frey D (2006) Group decision making in hidden profile situations: dissent as a facilitator for decision quality. J Pers Soc Psychol 91:1080–1093

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Senge PM (1990) The fifth discipline: the art & practice of the learning organization. Currency Doubleday, New York, p 371

    Google Scholar 

  40. Stevens RH, Galloway TL, Wang P, Berka C (2012) Cognitive neurophysiologic synchronies what can they contribute to the study of teamwork. Hum Factors 54(4):489–502

    Google Scholar 

  41. Stevens RH, Galloway TL (2014) Modeling the neurodynamics of organizations and interactions of teams. Soc Neurosci 11(2):123–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Taylor P (2018) Ending the myth of collaboration. https://paulitaylor.com/2018/02/19/ending-the-myth-of-collaboration/ Last Viewed: June 2022

  43. Xue L, Bot GL, Petegem WV, van Wieringen A (2018) Defining interdisciplinary competencies for audiological rehabilitation: findings from a modified Delphi study. Int J Audiol 57(2):81–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2017.1406156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Xue L, Rienties B, Petegem WV, Wieringen A van (2020) Learning relations of knowledge transfer (KT) and knowledge integration (KI) of doctoral students during online interdisciplinary training: an exploratory study. High Educ Res Develop 0(0):1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1712679

  45. Zak PJ (2017) Trust Factor: The science of creating high-performance companies. NY, AMACOM Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  46. Zull JE (2002) The Art of Changing The Brain: Enriching The Practice of Teaching by Exploring The Biology of Learning. Stylus Publishing, Sterling VA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Sustainability Studies and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

    David Gosselin

Authors
  1. David Gosselin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Gosselin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

    David Gosselin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Gosselin, D. (2023). Introduction to Crossdisciplinary Collaboration: Definitions, Systems, and the Brain. In: Gosselin, D. (eds) A Practical Guide for Developing Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Skills . AESS Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies and Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37220-9_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation