MODULE TITLE

Module 1: Building the ability to work with people from different communities, disciplines, and functions

AUTHORS

Michael Wildt, Sandra Hogeforster, Anna-Maria Czarny, Christian Wildt

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Open innovation requires working with people from outside of your organization. Often these people come from different cultures, backgrounds, and communities. Working with such diverse teams is a crucial component for success in innovative teams. To prevent diverse backgrounds to be an obstacle, certain aspects must be considered.

After reading this module the reader will receive an overview of different aspects of cultures, how to work with them, and use diversity as an advantage. In addition, different psychological concepts will be explained that facilitate working in teams and reaching the maximum potential of each co-worker. Certain features of your organizational structure will be questioned. To ensure the success of any open innovation strategy with workers from outside of your company cross-functional teams have to be built and work well together. Lastly, setting the right goals and the right long or short-term focus must be thought through when applying any innovation strategy. Especially when it comes to open innovation strategies supervisors must be ready for new perspectives. The ability to work with people from different communities, disciplines, and functions can be learned or enhanced and is the fundament of any open innovation strategy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completing this module, you should be able to:

A general understanding of the concept of culture and how to treat other cultures.
How to create cultural synergy
Which way is the best to build and work with a cross-functional team
How can SMEs cooperate with large companies or Universities
How to benefit from multiple people working on a project and when a group starts to work inefficiently
How to set goals that will increase the performance of a team without creating pressure and causing distress among team members.

Training Content

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Multiple Disciplines in one team – how can they thrive?

Recognize who acts how and why.

A multidisciplinary team will include of individuals with a variety of backgrounds, education, and working styles. This could lead to a “them and us” culture, which is bad for cooperation.

Everyone must not only be aware of and respect their own contribution, but also that of others.

Improved communication among team members greatly reduces any conflicts that may have crept into your company.

Educate one another.

There is a tremendous chance for all employees to increase their knowledge by working on a team with individuals who have diverse talents and viewpoints. Your teams constantly pick up new skills from one another when they work together. Teams can share ideas with one another through virtual brainstorming sessions in project groups by using platforms like Workplace.

Or make it possible for them to immediately respond to proposals that can encourage creativity and promote personal development.

Respect opposing viewpoints.

Bringing together individuals with various backgrounds and skills might result in disagreements and personality conflicts. Additionally, there might be a propensity to devalue particular responsibilities within the group. Teams should be aware that one objective of teamwork is to allow each member to contribute unique perspectives and abilities in order to advance shared objectives. Encourage your team to embrace diversity rather than toss it aside.

Avoid power struggles.

In diverse teams, determining who is the most powerful member can be challenging. The status of some team members may be higher than that of others. At team meetings, some people could vie for power and their egos might get in the way. If others don’t believe that the team holds their discipline on an equal level, they may feel ignored. No one person controls everything in a collaborative setting. Followers must learn to follow leaders.

Get rid of the complex jargon.

Workers frequently utilize jargon and buzzwords, which they have grown accustomed to. However, certain groups within the team may be able to understand particular terms with ease while others may find them entirely perplexing. So, make sure your staff utilize plain language instead of jargon. The same is true for any project’s technical aspects that might require explanation.

Create a sense of community within the workplace.

Collaboration can benefit significantly from developing strong relationships at work. Give your teams the chance to connect. Anything from online team-building activities to a common gaming area or regular staff outings could be included in this.