A Practical Guide for Managing Interdisciplinary Teams: Lessons Learned from Coupled Natural and Human Systems Research

V. Reilly Henson, Kelly M. Cobourn, Kathleen C. Weathers, Cayelan C. Carey, Kaitlin J. Farrell, Jennifer L. Klug, Michael G. Sorice, Nicole K. Ward and Weizhe Weng
Additional contact information
V. Reilly Henson: Hume Center for National Security and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Kelly M. Cobourn: Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Kathleen C. Weathers: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
Cayelan C. Carey: Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, VA 24061, Blacksburg, VA 12545, USA
Kaitlin J. Farrell: Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Jennifer L. Klug: Department of Biology, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
Michael G. Sorice: Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Nicole K. Ward: Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, VA 24061, Blacksburg, VA 12545, USA

Social Sciences, 2020, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Interdisciplinary team science is essential to address complex socio-environmental questions, but it also presents unique challenges. The scientific literature identifies best practices for high-level processes in team science, e.g., leadership and team building, but provides less guidance about practical, day-to-day strategies to support teamwork, e.g., translating jargon across disciplines, sharing and transforming data, and coordinating diverse and geographically distributed researchers. This article offers a case study of an interdisciplinary socio-environmental research project to derive insight to support team science implementation. We evaluate the project’s inner workings using a framework derived from the growing body of literature for team science best practices, and derive insights into how best to apply team science principles to interdisciplinary research. We find that two of the most useful areas for proactive planning and coordinated leadership are data management and co-authorship. By providing guidance for project implementation focused on these areas, we contribute a pragmatic, detail-oriented perspective on team science in an effort to support similar projects.

Keywords: authorship; collaboration; data management; interdisciplinary research; project management; teamwork; team science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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