Essential Structures of Interdisciplinary Collaboration: A Phenomenological Analysis

Collaboration across administrative boundaries is central to the effort to improve public health and eliminate health disparities. Phenomenology is a theoretical and methodological approach to the identifying the structures and meanings of subjective experience. In our previous study, we used phenomenologic methods to conduct a case-study of collaboration between two departments at an academic medical center. We identified the essential structures of the process of collaboration. These include context, motivation, shared decision making, selection of collaborators, communication, goal setting, role definition, and negotiation. A number of factors were identified which were not essential to the process of collaboration, but which have great impact on it. These include vision, values, leadership, agency, personalities, respect, responsiveness, participation, evaluation, accountability, and relationship development. This paper places the model into the context of previous investigations of the phenomenology of the social world. Public Health professionals can use this model to guide efforts to promote collaboration; recognize areas in which collaboration is or is not the most appropriate model; and identify key structures and processes that must be fostered to build and sustain effective collaboration.