Research

We primarily focus on complex knowledge work in demanding organizational settings such as: life and biomedical sciences, hospitals, trauma care, urgent care clinics, organizational teams, open science, open source, innovation and online communities.

The emerging technologies we investigate include: AI, data analytics, robots, technologies that support collaboration, expert systems, technology platforms, electronic health records, etc.

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We study the introduction of new technology and theorizing technologies

We study spaces and processes that are changing the way we work and function

We study how specific technologies affect coordination in these settings

We delve into research questions that include, but are not limited to:

  • How is knowledge produced in large-scale science research networks?

  • How is technology mobilized to resolve collaboration social dilemmas and create new open science regimes of knowing?

  • How is knowledge shared in online communities and what is the structure of successful ones?

  • How do hospitals adapt core operations and activities to take advantage of the affordances of learning algorithms?

  • How do complex healthcare organizations make sense of and respond rapidly to large-scale disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic?

  • How does the introduction of medical robots affect surgery team performance and coordination?

  • How does the availability of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) affect interdisciplinary collaboration and patient follow-up in urgent care setting?

  • Taking an expertise coordination perspective, what can be learned about knowledge practices in complex medical decision-making, around diagnosis and treatment?

  • How does moving a hospital to a brand new fully-equipped space transform work organization, coordination, and performance?

Theoretically and empirically, the Group on Complex Collaboration has already contributed to literature on knowledge teams coordination, medical team coordination, IT appropriation, online collaboration, and why individuals participate and exchange knowledge online.

Our group is international in membership and outlook, and is coordinated from the Desautels faculty at McGill University under the guidance of Prof. Samer Faraj.