Solving challenges in inter- and trans-disciplinary working teams: Lessons from the surgical technology field.
BACKGROUND
Engineering a medical technology is a complex process, therefore it is important to include experts from different scientific fields. This is particularly true for the development of surgical technology, where the relevant scientific fields are surgery (medicine) and engineering (electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, etc.). Furthermore, the scientific field of human factors is important to ensure that a surgical technology is indeed functional, process-oriented, effective, efficient as well as user- and patient-oriented. Working in such trans- and inter-disciplinary teams can be challenging due to different working cultures. The intention of this paper is to propose an innovative cooperative working culture for the interdisciplinary field of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) based on more than ten years of research on the one hand and the interdisciplinary literature on working cultures and various organizational theories on the other hand.


METHODS
In this paper, a retrospective analysis of more than ten years of research work in inter- and trans-disciplinary teams in the field of CAS will be performed. This analysis is based on the documented observations of the authors, the study reports, protocols, lab reports and published publications. To additionally evaluate the scientific experience in an interdisciplinary research team, a literature analysis regarding scientific literature on trans- and inter-disciplinarity was performed. Own research and literature analyses were compared.


RESULTS
Both the literature and the scientific experience in an interdisciplinary research team show that consensus finding is not always easy. It is, however, important to start trans- and interdisciplinary projects with a shared mental model and common goals, which include communication and leadership issues within the project teams, i.e. clear and unambiguous information about the individual responsibilities and objectives to attain. This is made necessary due to differing leadership cultures within the cooperating disciplines. Another research outcome is the relevance of a cooperative learning culture throughout the complete duration of the project. Based on this cooperation, new ideas and projects were developed, i.e. a training concept for surgical trainers including technological competence for surgeons.


CONCLUSIONS
An adapted innovative paradigm for a cooperating working culture in CAS is based on a shared mental model and common goals from the very beginning of a project.


CONCLUSIONS
All actors in trans- and inter-disciplinary teams need to be interested in cooperation. This will lead to a common view on patients and technology models.
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Innovative Surgical Training Technologies (ISTT), Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig - University of Applied Sciences, Eilenburger Straße 13, D-04317 LeipzigGermany.
Werner
W
Korb
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Innovative Surgical Training Technologies (ISTT), Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig - University of Applied Sciences, Eilenburger Straße 13, D-04317 LeipzigGermany. Electronic address: geissler@istt.htwk-leipzig.de.
Norman
N
Geißler
International Reference and Development Center for Surgical Technology (IRDC) Leipzig, Käthe-Kollwitz-Straße 64, 04109 Leipzig, Germany.
Gero
G
Strauß
D032921:Consensus; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006804:Ergonomics; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008611:Mentors; D010348:Patient Care Team; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted
Development of surgical training concepts; Literature analysis; Retrospective analysis; Usability of navigated control