Structural Clarity of Interdisciplinary Teams: A Research Note

Abstract

Previous studies of scientists in formal organizations have stressed the conflict between the scientist's professional needfor autonomy and the organization's needfor an efficient-often bureaucratic-formal structure. In this paper the importance of a clearly articulated formal structure (that need not be bureaucratic) in interdisciplinary research teams is discussed as a necessary condition for the development of adequate communication among team members. The authors argue that without a basic formal structure that is clear to all members, effective interaction and communication will not take place. Findings from a study of one interdisciplinary team are presented as illustrative of the ideas linking clarity offormal team structure, status problems, and interaction and communication within the team.