How does trust evolve in Collaborative Research projects and how can dialogue enrich learning in such projects?

These questions are explored by MMTC members Anders Melander Opens in new window. and Tomas Mullern Opens in new window., together with their coauthors, in their recent publication: "Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Collaborative Research—in Dialogues We Trust".

MMTC members Anders Melander and Tomas Mullern, together with their coauthors David Anderssson (Borand AB), Fredrik Elgh (School of Engineering, Jönköping University) & Malin Löfving (Träcentrum Nässjö ) explore how trust evolves in Collaborative Research projects and how can dialogue enrich learning in such projects.

Reflecting on a major collaborative research project with SMEs, the authors realized that the dialogue between the project stakeholders was of key importance to the overall success. Further analyzing this aspect of the collaborative project, the authors find that trust develops in distinct dialogue patterns (educating, inquiring and practicing) and is related to different learning practices (knowledge sharing, knowledge gapping, knowledge bettering and knowledge speculating). They argue that the dialogical element of trust ought to be present in both the initiation of CR projects and as they progress.

This article, "Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Collaborative Research—in Dialogues We Trust" was published in the journal Systemic Practice and Action Research and can be found here https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-021-09589-2