CHAPTER 17 L. MICHELLE BENNETT PHD HOWARD GADLIN PHD Supporting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The...

CHAPTER 17

L. MICHELLE BENNETT PHDHOWARD GADLIN PHD

Supporting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Role of the

Institution

O'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Consider this….

The recent growth of interest in interdisciplinary research programs has not been matched by a parallel development of institutional mechanisms for preparing and supporting researchers

Researchers can find themselves in a “double bind” between opposing messages conveyed by leadership

This presentation analyzes five areas in which current institutional practices can undermine interdisciplinary research teams and collaborations


Outline

IntroductionCommunicationTrust at the Institutional LevelOrganizational VisionSetting ExpectationsDifferencePowerOrganizational LeadershipSelf Awareness for the OrganizationTake Away Message


Introduction

Leading change to create a culture that supports interdisciplinary research:Implementation of new interdisciplinary

programs is exciting and can lead to more than iterative advances in knowledge

It can take time for institutional policies and procedures to catch up with and become compatible with new initiatives

Even when new policies are put in place their implementation can be slow and met by resistance based

“This is the way we have always done it” O'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

“Problems in Communication”

Communication across institutions is interdisciplinary, by default

Communication reaches beyond what is spoken or written from one person to another

Organizational norms, cultures, and policies send strong messages about what is acceptable or not

People’s perceptions of their organizations reflect the messages they have received


Successful interdisciplinary collaboration is not possible without

effective interdisciplinary communication.

Effective interdisciplinary communication is inextricably linked to

establishing institutional trust.

Importance of Communication


Organizational Trust

Provides a platform for open communicationEnables a Vision to be shared and embracedSets the stage for organizational changeIs the foundation for effective conflict

managementIt is tied to policies and procedures – and

how those are implementedCan be lacking even when employees trust

individual leaders


Organizational Trust: Three Elements

Identity-based trust Shared institutional identity

Role-based trust Focused on the roles people play in the organization trust of the role as opposed to the individual

Rule-based trust Codifies norms of conduct Sets expectations for behavior based on shared

understanding

Kramer and Lewicki, 2006


Examples of low trust between a team and the organization

Tenure criteria and implementation Inability to recognize the accomplishments of an

individual in the context of a collaborationFailure to recognize and reward team effortsLack of career progression/tracks for those

dedicated to team scienceNegative consequences to senior

investigators for ceding first/last authorship positions to more junior team members


Build and Maintain Trust

Develop scaffolds for establishing trustWritten agreements serve as scaffolds

Prenuptial agreements TT offer letters or pre-tenure agreements Team review agreements

Develop policies that support collaborationProvide support

Training and education about the policies How they will be implemented Information dissemination about criteria about What to do if there is disagreement (ADR)

Institutional self-awarenessO'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Procedural Justice: One Pillar of Trust

Perception that procedures by which decisions are made are fair

Four dimensions Formal decision making rules Quality of treatment people receive under those rules Fairness of decision-making by one’s supervisor Quality of treatment by the supervisor

TylerO'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Judging Fairness

Four criteria are used: Consistency: like cases treated alike Unbiased: those implementing procedures should be

impartial and objective Participation: those impacted by a decision should

have a voice in the process Transparency: open procedures, no secrecy or

deception, clear unbiased criteria

TylerO'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Organizational Vision

Leaders establish the vision which drives the direction of the organization

Articulation of the vision is critical when: There is a new leader Priorities or direction is changing Unexpected opportunity arises

Can be created top-down or bottom-upThe bottom-up approach permits greater

opportunities for shared ownership and commitment


Setting Expectations

The organization can play a critical role in helping set expectations through providing tools that document roles and responsibilities

These approaches help demonstrate the commitment of the institution

Tools include: Collaborative agreements Team charters Agreements documented in offer letters Pre-tenure agreements


Prenuptials for Scientists: Collaborative Research Agreements

Categories to cover• Goals and Vision of the Collaboration

o Including…when is the project/collaboration “over”?• Who Will Do What?

o Expectations, responsibility and accountability• Authorship, Credit

o Criteria, attribution, public comment, media, IP• Contingencies and Communicating

o What if …? and Rules of engagement• Conflict of Interest

o How will you ID conflicts? And resolve them?


Pre-Tenure Agreement

Roles, Responsibilities, Expectations What will be expected of the early career scientist? How will success be defined for those participating in

interdisciplinary research? Leading an interdisciplinary team? What will be the role of the department? Chair?

Review and Reward Success: What criteria will be used to assess the progress and

success of the scientist for interdisciplinary work? Sharing Credit and Data:

Mentoring How will the early career scientist be mentored in interdisciplinary research?

(Individual mentor, mentoring committee, etc.) What will be expected of the scientist in mentoring his or her own lab/team members?

Joint Appointments For researchers appointed in more than one department the agreement will clearly

articulate what support exists, from whom it originates, where the administrative home is, who participates in annual review, et….


Difference

Recognizing and managing differences is even more important in structuring interactions between people in administrative roles and people in research positions than it is than managing differences within a team

disciplines, vocabularies, techniques and methodologies as well as varied ways of thinking about science, conducting research, and sharing credit

As well as nationalities, languages, and racesO'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Difference

In the research setting differences include:disciplines, vocabularies, techniques and

methodologies as well as varied ways of thinking about science, conducting research, and sharing credit

nationalities, languages, and races

“There is no reason to assume that dialogue across differences involves either eliminating those differences or imposing one group’s views on others; dialogue that

leads to understanding, cooperation and accommodation can sustain differences within a broader compact of

toleration and respect.” Burbules and Rice, 1991


Basic Elements of Power

Personal Characteristics skills, charisma, work ethic, values,

Performance product, results, accomplishments

Reputation view/perception from the outside

Allies/Networks Relationships

Position title, role, responsibilities, authority, resources, ability

to reward/punishInformation

knowledgeO'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Basic Elements of Power

Infrastructural power plays a significant role in determining the degree

of institutional trust between scientific research groups and the institutions within which they function

allows for trust building and is explored more in the second case study

Power and trust can amplify or substitute for one another strong leaders in positions of power can serve as

honest brokers between wary participants and can bridge that distrust


Organizational Leadership

Sharing power increases a manager’s influence, and stability across organizations can be enhanced with multiple leaders

“… I developed team skills because I started to engage in deliberate deflection of credit in an

environment where it was all about credits. What I started realizing was that people appreciated you

when you played for the result, and not for your role on the team. So I learned that giving credit away, deflecting credit, was an effective thing to do.”

– John Donovan, CTO AT&TO'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Organizational Leadership

Self-awareness is even important among institutional executive leadership

Executives must choose to become aware of the impact the organization’s policies, procedures, culture, and norms have on those functioning within the organization

Organizational self-awareness is a lubricant that facilitates the interactions on which everything else depends: communication, trust, power, conflict management,

reconciliation of differences, and collaboration O'Rourke, Enhancing Communication & Collaboration in Interdisciplinary Research © 2014 SAGE Publications Inc

Take Home Message

Institutional Trust is Critical for….Establishing an institutional vision Creating an environment where difference is an

integrated element of the organizational culture Attending to how power is used within an

organization and recognizing its ties to trustLeaders to take responsibility for providing the

organization with the information and tools it needs to achieve the organizational vision and goals


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CHAPTER 17 L. MICHELLE BENNETT PHD HOWARD GADLIN PHD Supporting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The...

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