A conceptual methodological approach for addressing complex interdisciplinary challenges

Abstract Complex challenges are multi-faceted and, therefore, require the input of knowledge and expertise from different disciplines. However, the prevailing structures of academic institutions tend to be based on specialized disciplinary knowledge and expertise, rather than cross-disciplinary synthesis of the insights from disciplinary knowledge and expertise, reflexivity and holistic approaches. As such, the existing model for generating ‘excellence’ in novel and specialized research does not lend itself to the synthesis of existing disciplinary insight, where the long-term goals and short-term metrics of success are different. There is, therefore, a need to create opportunities for a new and complementary conceptual methodological approach to address persistent complex challenges. This paper proposes two tools designed to facilitate thinking about what types of disciplinary knowledge and expertise can be relevant to tackling complex challenges, and to identify what questions might spark productive and unconventional dialogues across disciplines that result in interdisciplinary insight. Approaching complex challenges using these tools addresses the need to deal with different facets of the challenge in concert, and the need for effective juxtaposition and combination of knowledge and expertise from multiple disciplines to develop interdisciplinary insight and approaches to craft questions and address the challenge.