• **The problem: **The talk about using a 'multidisciplinary team' for better policymaking is common, but not always seen in action.

  • Why it matters: In a team with people from different fields, each person can tackle specific parts of the problem you're working on that they have expertise in.

  • **The solution: **Understand what benefits multidisciplinary teams can bring you if used properly.

Singapore has become known worldwide as one of the most advanced and innovative countries in the past few years, earning the name "Smart Nation". But how exactly did Singapore become a Smart Nation?

The answer lies partly in strategically involving professionals from technology, urban planning, data analytics, and policy working together at the right time on the right tasks.

This is also known as multidisciplinary teams. So what is a multidisciplinary team, and how can you best use them?

What is a multidisciplinary team?

What is a multidisciplinary team (MDT)? Broadly, it refers to when experts from different disciplines work on a problem or topic.

But simply bringing experts together from different disciplines doesn’t automatically mean that multidisciplinary working and collaboration will happen. For multidisciplinary work to happen, teams must share common goals and values, appreciate each other's skills, be open to learning from different disciplines and respect diverse perspectives.

Explore further

You might have noticed that multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary are used interchangeably. The literature on these different terms isn’t quite clear on a single working definition for each.

In a paper written by Bernard C. K. Choi and Anita W. P. Pak, they analyse online definitions for the terms provided between 1982 and 2006. They find that each term means:

  • “Multidisciplinarity draws on knowledge from different disciplines but stays within their boundaries.”
  • “Interdisciplinarity analyzes, synthesizes and harmonizes links between disciplines into a coordinated and coherent whole.”
  • “Transdisciplinarity integrates the natural, social and health sciences in a humanities context, and transcends their traditional boundaries.”

Why are multidisciplinary teams important?

There are several research-backed benefits to working in and using multidisciplinary teams. Some benefits include:

  • **Different qualifications and experiences: **Bringing together team members with various qualifications and experiences helps because each person has unique skills and knowledge. This diversity allows the team to approach challenges from different angles and find better solutions.
  • **Different perspectives: **Having team members with diverse perspectives means they see things in different ways. This variety of viewpoints is valuable because it helps the team consider all aspects of a situation and make more well-rounded decisions.
  • **Breaking down silos: **When teams break down silos, it means they stop working in isolated groups. Instead, they collaborate and share information across the entire team. This is beneficial because it improves communication, enhances efficiency, and ensures everyone is on the same page.
  • Efficient problem-solving: With diverse perspectives and knowledge, multidisciplinary teams can quickly identify and solve complex problems by drawing on the strengths of different team members.

Having read about what multidisciplinary teams are and why they are important, think about your own context. How can you encourage talking and working together openly with colleagues from various fields to make the most of our team's diverse knowledge?

If you have any suggestions, please share them in this Q&A about leveraging the strengths of individuals from different fields to enhance creativity and problem-solving. We’d love to hear from you!

  1. Webster, N. 2021. _What’s so good about a multidisciplinary team? _Available: https://publicpolicydesign.blog.gov.uk/2021/06/10/whats-so-good-about-a-multidisciplinary-team/ [2023, 14 November].

  2. Australian Government Digital Transformation Agency. n.d. _Multidisciplinary teams. _Available: https://www.dta.gov.au/help-and-advice/build-and-improve-services/managing-teams/multidisciplinary-teams [2023, 14 November].

  3. Geoerge, T. n.d. How Singpaore Became the World’s Top “Smart Nation”. Available: https://www.plugandplayapac.com/post/how-singapore-became-the-world-s-top-smart-nation [2023, 14 November].

  4. Research Development Office. 2020. _The Difference Between Multidiscplinary, Interdisciplinary, and Convergence Research. _Available: https://research.ncsu.edu/rdo/the-difference-between-multidisciplinary-interdisciplinary-and-convergence-research/ [2023, 14 November].

  5. Mental Health Commission. 2023. _Multidiscplinary Team Working: From Theory to Practice. _Available: https://www.lenus.ie/bitstream/handle/10147/43830/4367.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [2023, 14 November].

  6. SYDLE. 2023. Multidisciplinary Teams: What Are They, and How Do You Form and Manage _Them? _Available: https://www.sydle.com/blog/multidisciplinary-teams-62d82af1cfc5793de4a43f17 [2023, 14 November].

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