Organizing to solve complex problems Joel M. Smith Carnegie Mellon University
Dec 16, 2015
“The need for inter-disciplinary approaches has increased tremendously. The problem frankly is, although we have been discussing it for 40 years, collectively we never seem to get it right.... If we could come up with a series of distilled lessons learned, principles, and action steps that could be taken, then I think we could make tremendous progress.” Alan Leshner, CEO AAAS (2011)
Disciplinary Multi-disciplinary
Inter-disciplinary
Problems defined by a discipline to
advance knowledge
in the discipline
Problems defined by a
discipline that require input from
other disciplines
Complex real world problems
that require integrated solutions
Disciplinary Multi-disciplinary
Inter-disciplinary
Search algorithms
Data security
Improving the quality of life with technology
Models of human
memory
Identifying the neural bases of
cognition
Creatingmore effective
learning strategies
Examples from Carnegie Mellon
Disciplinary Multi-
disciplinaryInter-
disciplinary
Computer Science
Department
Cyber security
Lab
The Quality of Life
Technology Center
Examples from Carnegie Mellon
Disciplinary Multi-
disciplinaryInter-
disciplinary
PsychologyDepartment
Center for the Neural
Basis of Cognition
The Simon Initiative
Principle #1
Multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research and education arises from a shared, sustained belief among the participants that learning objectives cannot be achieved or problems solved without taking such an approach.
Lesson Learned #1 – The pull of the discipline is strong
Disciplinary Multi-
disciplinaryInter-
disciplinary
“Andrew Project” at Carnegie Mellon
Peer education
“Andrew Project” at Carnegie Mellon
Peer education
Pure Technolog
y tools
“Andrew Project” at Carnegie Mellon
Lesson Learned #1 – The pull of the discipline
Disciplinary Multi-
disciplinaryInter-
disciplinary
Principle #2
Efforts to solve well-defined, real-world problems are what sustain multi- and inter-disciplinary efforts.
Organization around real-world problems – QoLT Center
Improve driving safety of older drivers.
Provide older humans meaningful, context-appropriate cognitive assistance in navigating their world.
Lesson Learned #2 – Have a tactical plan to deal with “drift”
Sciences of Learning Center
Effective Instruction
Disciplinary Multi-
disciplinaryInter-
disciplinary
Principle #3
Concentrating on removing barriers to a diversity of faculty and students working together and focusing rewards on providing solutions to complex problems allows inter-disciplinary efforts to grow "bottom up."
Or as Randy Pausch put it:
“The sane universities never went near this stuff, but Carnegie Mellon gave us explicit license to break the mold.”
Pausch, Randy; Jeffrey Zaslow, The Last Lecture
Lesson Learned #3
Carnegie Mellon's tolerance for the creation of “institutes” or “centers” exploring multi- and inter-disciplinary efforts led to a culture of such projects.
We don’t have the time, but...Center for Behavioral Decision Research
Center for Risk Perception and Communication
iLab – Inter-disciplinary IT, Policy, and Management Research
CyLab
Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition
Center for Advanced Process Decision Making
Robotics Institute
Human-Computer Interaction Institute
Entertainment Technology Center
Center for Arts in Society
Center for Ethics and Policy
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Center for the Design of Educational Computing
Center for International Relations and Politics
Center for Computational Biology
Center for Manufacturing Decision Systems
Center for Sensed Critical Infrastructure
Information Networking Institute
Integrated Innovation Institute
Institute for Complex Engineered Systems
National Robotics Information Center
Software Engineering Institute
Instruction: course topics and design
Disciplinary Multi-
disciplinaryInter-
disciplinary
History of American
Novel
Dissenters and Believers:
Romanticism, Radicalism,
and Religiosity, 1789-1830
Digital Literary and
Cultural Studies: Six Degrees of
Francis Bacon
Digital Literary and Cultural Studies: Six Degrees of Francis Bacon
“As students work in teams to turn unstructured historical data from the age of Shakespeare, Bacon, and Galileo into presentable network visualizations, participants will decide what counts as data, write standards for inclusion and exclusion, design media, develop prototypes, and present findings.”
Principle #4
Problem based learning is an effective strategy for encouraging inter-disciplinary learning.
Lesson Learned #4
Project-based courses and research projects foster an inter-disciplinary approach to problem solving and knowledge organization.
Lesson Learned #5
Unanticipated barriers to inter-disciplinary work arise from the fact that it must be a collaboration among human beings.
Our “patron saint” always advocated collaborative design and delivery of
instruction
“Improvement in post-secondary education will require converting teaching from a ‘solo sport’ to a community-based research activity.”
Herbert Simon
Well…maybe not entirely“…collaboration is not widespread in the academy…higher education institutions are generally organized in departmental silos and bureaucratic or hierarchical administrative structures….the culture of the academy reinforces individual work.”
Organizing Higher Education for Collaboration
Kenzar and Lester (2009)
Open Learning Initiative (OLI)
Content experts (faculty)
Learning scientists
Human-computer interaction experts
Design experts
Software engineers
Assessment experts
Students
Specifics on Collaboration from the OLI Experience – Principle #5
A collaboration is sustained only if there is explicit and continued agreement about:• Who brings what expertise to the
collaboration
• Decision making procedures
• How progress is measured
• How credit and rewards will be given
Principle #6
Achieving integrated solutions to complex problems through inter-disciplinary work requires stepping out of one’s disciplinary comfort zone and tolerance for colleagues who are stepping into yours.
Deep collaboration requires:• Respect for the expertise and efforts of all
the members of the partnership• Frank and sometimes awkward
conversations• Resisting the natural urge: “This would go
faster and better if I just did it myself.”• Daily maintenance
Lessons Learned #6 +