Schneider, Andreas, Erden, Zeynep and von Krogh, Georg (2014) COORDINATING KNOWLEDGE CREATION IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS: EVIDENCE FROM EARLY-STAGE DRUG DISCOVERY. Academy of Management Journal. ISSN 0001-42731948-0989

Abstract

Science- and technology-based organizations are of pivotal importance for modern society, yet little is known about how they deal with scientific uncertainty. Based on a longitudinal field study of five drug discovery projects in a global pharmaceutical firm we unveil how multidisciplinary teams reduce scientific uncertainty through concerted efforts of new knowledge creation. Our findings suggest that locus of uncertainty (LOU) drives collaboration and knowledge creation activities within these team. The construct LOU captures where scientific uncertainty temporarily resides relative to the scientific communities that are instrumental in resolving it. As the locus of uncertainty constantly shifts over time drug discovery teams end up actively chasing the LOU both within and across scientific communities. During this process, scientists engage in radically different yet complementary patterns of knowledge creation activities contingent upon their temporary position relative to the LOU. We summarize our findings in a process model and discuss process characteristics for effective and efficient new knowledge creation to reduce scientific uncertainty. The article concludes with a number of implications for research and management practice.

Item Type:	Article
Date Deposited:	03 May 2016 23:45
Last Modified:	03 May 2016 23:45
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/20486