Impact Mechanisms and Action Strategies of High-Level Interdisciplinary Team Development in Research Universities: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Nine Cases in Natural Sciences

Abstract

High-level interdisciplinary teams are a crucial pillar for research universities aiming to advance toward the Double First-Class Initiative and to foster interdisciplinary integration. This study developed a framework for understanding the impact mechanisms and action strategies of high-level interdisciplinary team development through qualitative analysis of nine case teams from two research universities. It found that survival is an antecedent for research teams to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, with key actors serving as a mediating variable to enhance team development. The interaction of institutions, resources, and culture shapes the development space, which in turn determines the team’s strategic space. High-level interdisciplinary teams implement action strategies, including establishing long-term mechanisms, cultivating comparative advantages, and optimizing organizational ecosystems, to achieve rapid breakthroughs. To advance the high-quality development of interdisciplinary teams, it is essential to enhance interdisciplinary integration and implement targeted, systemic, organizational, and fundamental measures across multiple dimensions, such as resources, institutions, and culture. These efforts would facilitate a multidimensional environment conducive to interdisciplinary teams’ development.

Keywords

high-level interdisciplinary teams / impact mechanism / action strategy

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Higher Education Press