Cooper, I (2002) Transgressing discipline boundaries: Is bequest an example of 'the new production of knowledge'? Building Research & Information, 30(2), pp. 116-129. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
This paper places the BEQUEST concerted action (an international project on sustainable urban development) within the context of the discussion that has arisen, within the last decade, about the so-called 'new production of knowledge'. Where such production occurs, short-life inter-disciplinary teams collaborate by engaging in a dynamic form of research characterized by practical problem-solving through negotiated and consensually produced knowledge. In BEQUEST, such knowledge production was electronically mediated - collaboration and dissemination occurred predominantly over the Internet. Attention is drawn to BEQUEST's modus operandi for dealing with contentious issues - sustainable development, inter-disciplinary working, and the design and management of virtual organizations. And it closes by commenting on the implications of crossing discipline boundaries -demanded by 'the new production of knowledge' -for the organization and conduct of research on the built environment.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | collaboration; consensus building; discipline boundaries; e-science; inter-disciplinary research; knowledge production; sustainable urban development; virtual organization |
| Index terms: | consensus building, collaboration, virtual organization, built environment, sustainable urban development, international project, science, dissemination, internet, boundaries, inter-disciplinary working, sustainable development |
| Subjects: | management, property law, collaborative management, specialized education, health safety and environment, infrastructure and transport systems, knowledge translation, strategic management, computing systems, information systems, sustainability and resilience |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Organizational Design, Education, International Construction, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here