Research on Collaboration, Business Communication, and Technology: Reflections on an Interdisciplinary Academic Collaboration

Abstract

often recommended and occasionally studied, but little has been written about the personal, practical, and methodological issues involved in doing it. In this article, the authors describe one particular research collaboration between a business communication scholar and an information systems researcher. They present their observations about the political pitfalls and personal benefits of their interdisciplinary collaboration. As they attempt to generalize from their experience, the authors conclude that politics in the broadest sense of the term is the most critical challenge to the conduct of interdisciplinary research.

Practising interdisciplinarity in the interplay between disciplines: experiences of established researchers

“…The interviewees suggested that doing interdisciplinary research may distance the researcher from their "home discipline" and this could pose an obstacle for their career because recognition structures are discipline-based. However, interviewees also felt rewarded by their involvement in different fields, the achievement of a more original type of knowledge and the belief that their research reflects their values (see also Brewer, 1999;Campbell, 2005;Chen, 1981;Forman and Markus, 2005;Scerri, 2000). Individual researchers can overcome institutional constraints encountered when doing interdisciplinary research as individuals or in groups.…”

Locations, Programs, and Content of Graduate Education in Business Communication

“…Scholars in business communication hail from a variety of disciplinary and institutional backgrounds (Laster & Russ, 2010, p. 249). This diversity strengthens business communication scholarship through the infusion of new ideas and opportunities for collaboration (Forman & Markus, 2005;Locker, 1994). However, this diversity poses a problem for graduate students who need a clear educational path to acquire the training necessary for faculty positions in business communication: students may wonder where prospective business communication faculty can or should seek training to be well-equipped for the role (Suchan & Charles, 2006, p. 397).…”