Research Teams as Complex Systems: Implications for Knowledge Management

Vasileiadou E. (2012), "Research teams as complex systems: implications for knowledge management", Knowledge Management Research and Practice 10: 118-127

26 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2014

See all articles by Eleftheria Vasileiadou

Eleftheria Vasileiadou

School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology

Date Written: February 25, 2014

Abstract

The recent increase in research collaboration creates the need to better understand the interaction between individual researchers and the collaborative team. The paper elaborates the conceptualization of research teams as complex systems which emerge out of the local interactions of individual members operating in their local research groups, and which exhibit different dynamics: the local, the global dynamics, and the contextual dynamics. A model of research teams as complex systems is also introduced. This conceptualization provides unique insights on management of distributed research teams: (1) the internal operations of some teams are more sensitive to external events than others (2) conflicts emerge as a mismatch of management structures at the different levels in which a team operates; (3) teams of high complexity have additional coordination needs, which can be fulfilled by the use of ICTs. Recommendations are drawn for the use of complex adaptive systems model in the field of knowledge management.

Keywords: complex systems, research teams, research collaboration, ICTs

Suggested Citation

Vasileiadou, Eleftheria, Research Teams as Complex Systems: Implications for Knowledge Management (February 25, 2014). Vasileiadou E. (2012), "Research teams as complex systems: implications for knowledge management", Knowledge Management Research and Practice 10: 118-127, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2401107

Eleftheria Vasileiadou (Contact Author)

School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology ( email )

Eindhoven
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/site/eleftheriavasileiadou/

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