Open AccessRiding the Same Wavelength: Designers’ Perceptions of Shared Understanding in Remote Teams
Author(s) -
Jonas Kniel,
Alice Comi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sage open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2158-2440
DOI - 10.1177/21582440211040129
Subject(s) - perception , transparency (behavior) , perspective (graphical) , thematic analysis , knowledge management , work (physics) , scope (computer science) , psychology , computer science , qualitative research , engineering , sociology , mechanical engineering , social science , computer security , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , programming language
The buildup of shared understanding is central to design work. It is particularly important in remote teams, where design work is carried out by participants scattered across geographical locations. We contribute by exploring designers’ perceptions of shared understanding in remote teams. Taking the perspective of individual designers working in remote teams, we pursue two aims: first, to uncover the work elements that are perceived as requiring shared understanding, and second, to identify the perceived enablers of and barriers to the buildup of shared understanding. Albeit under-researched, such individual perceptions are important because they likely shape the scope and extent of the shared understanding built in the remote team. To pursue our aims, we conducted in-depth interviews with experienced designers. Using thematic analysis, we found that team spirit, shared experience, trustworthiness, and transparency, as well as project management and related micro-practices, are perceived as central to building shared understanding in remote design teams.