Organizing to solve complex
problems
Joel M. Smith
Carnegie Mellon University
“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)
A framework for discussing
inter-disciplinary education and
research:
Disciplinary
Problems
defined by a
discipline to
advance
knowledge
in the
discipline
Multidisciplinary
Problems
defined by a
discipline
that require
input from
other
disciplines
Interdisciplinary
Complex
real world
problems
that require
integrated
solutions
Disciplinary
Search
algorithms
Models of
human
memory
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
Data
security
Improving
the quality
of life with
technology
Identifying
the neural
bases of
cognition
Creating
more effective
learning
strategies
Examples from Carnegie Mellon
Disciplinary
Computer
Science
Department
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
Cyber
security
Lab
The Quality
of Life
Technology
Center
Examples from Carnegie Mellon
Disciplinary
Psychology
Department
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
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
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
“Andrew Project”
at Carnegie Mellon
Peer
education
Lesson Learned #1 – The pull of
the discipline
Disciplinary
“Andrew Project”
at Carnegie Mellon
Pure
Technology
tools
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
“Andrew Project”
at Carnegie Mellon
Peer
education
Principle #2
Efforts to solve well-defined, real-world
problems are what sustain multi- and interdisciplinary efforts.
Organization around real-world
problems – QoLT Center
Improve driving safety of older drivers.
Provide older humans meaningful, contextappropriate cognitive assistance in
navigating their world.
Lesson Learned #2 – Have a tactical
plan to deal with “drift”
Disciplinary
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
Sciences of Learning
Center
Effective
Instruction
Cognitive
Science
Design
Effective
Instruction
Data
Mining
Social
Communi
-cation
Computer
Modeling
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 interdisciplinary 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 multiand 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
History of
American
Novel
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
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.
Building Virtual Worlds
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 postsecondary education will
require converting teaching
from a ‘solo sport’ to a
community-based research
activity.”
Herbert Simon
No problem, higher education is
collaborative right?
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.
Lessons Learned #6 +
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
Is it “worth” the effort?
I don’t think there is an alternative given the
complexity of problems we face.
But Alan Leshner is right, we can only do this
collectively and only if we share principles,
lessons learned, and action steps.