Expert and non-expert at the same time: knowledge integration processes and dynamics in interdisciplinary teamwork

Abstract Contemporary sustainability issues require the integration of diverse knowledge to study and address them holistically. How interdisciplinary arises in teamwork is, however, poorly understood. For instance, studies often focus on either individual or team processes, rather than studying their interplay thereby contributing understanding an integral manner. Therefore, this we aimed understand how processes are shaped by interactions teamwork. We present insights from ethnographic case among eight master’s students. In student team, observed two dynamics that impeded integration: (1) conformative dynamic manifested as avoiding ignoring differences, (2) performative not-knowing. Based earlier work, expected one’s own engaging with each other’s would ensure integration. However, exposed it did not only depend whether was contributed engaged with, but also which exchanged manipulated coin concept ‘relative expertise’, emphasizes requires collaborators act simultaneously expert—in relation contributory expertise—and non-expert—in others’ expertise. The hampered acting a relative expert, saw students’ epistemic competencies, shared assumptions about teamwork, social context. may help recognize underlying factors impair integration, inform targeted interventions facilitate