What Really Works: Reflections on Applied Methods in a Real World Interdisciplinary Project

Knowledge Technologies Institute

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Elisabeth Lex, Peter Kraker, Sebastian Dennerlein 2014

What Really Works: Reflections on Applied Methods in a Real World Interdisciplinary Project

Elisabeth Lex

Univ. Ass. Knowledge Technologies Institute

Graz University of Technology, Austria

e-mail: [email protected]: http://elisabethlex.info


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Overview

Interdisciplinary project Smart Pharma

We combined • pharmaceutical engineering• computer science • psychology

to develop a collaborative pharmaceutical knowledge management system that fits the needs of pharmaceutical engineers


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Our Approach

• We used Bronstein's model of interdisciplinary collaboration• Describes components of

optimal collaboration• Domain Independent • Strong practical side


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Real World Setting: Smart Pharma

• Knowledge generated from large pool of scientific articles, lab reports, package inserts,..• Computer scientists: Data mining/Visual Analytics for analysis of

scientic publications and research data• Algorithms tailored towards pharmaceutical domain with help of

pharmaceutical engineers

• Knowledge about pharmaceutical processes was transformed into domain and process models• Psychologist: Expert in modelling, process construction and on how to

design a wiki for collaborative knowledge construction.• Pharmaceutical engineer: Domain expert

• Constant validation and feedback: all


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Implementation 1/2

• Start: Series of face-to-face kick-off meetings• Then: collaborators reflected and discussed about

the offers separately and met again with new proposals and ideas Iterative, multistage step, helped develop shared understanding

and common goal

• Agreement on common project target and outcome Leads to collective ownership of project goals, complementary

subtasks and responsibilities, i.e. interdependence in Bronstein's model

We organized common workshop SmartPharma at www.i-know.tugraz.at conference, industrial track


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Implementation 2/2

• Two types of interdisciplinary tasks: • Single-discipline tasks tackled in cooperative manner, e.g.

software development or preparation of domain specic process data (interdependence component of Bronstein's model)

• Tasks in collaborative manner, i.e. tasks whose fullment relies on the complementary skill of the disciplines.

• Collaborative tasks tackled by smaller focus teams flexibility and newly created professional activities component. Iterative sharing of domain knowledge (reflection on process,

flexibility and collective ownership of goals) Interdisciplinary trainings


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Challenges

• Collaborative tasks require lot of communication, face-to-face time to sit and work together and willingness to learn from each other

• Willingness to share (domain) knowledge: knowledge means market advantage

• Finding the right tool for communication• Finding a common language between people from

different domains• Setting priorities: strategies for the appreciation of

interdisciplinary projects required


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Lessons Learned

• Bronstein‘s model fits: its components have to be used for the right task: interdependence for cooperative phases

• Collective ownershop of goals and newly created professional activities for collaborative phases

• Reflection on the process and flexibility essential for both collaborative and cooperative phases

• Extension of the model: • interdisciplinary trainings• use of suitable tools and technologies for communication and to

manage goals and expectations• shared knowledge about the situation, methods and operators


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Our (interdisciplinary) team

Elisabeth Lex Peter Kraker Sebastian [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

What Really Works: Reflections on Applied Methods in a Real World Interdisciplinary Project

Science

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