Common grounds and representations in cross-disciplinary processes

Purpose - Major challenges of knowledge transfer processes in cross-disciplinary projects result from differing disciplinary terminologies and from work groups which are located at different locations. From a representational viewpoint, visual media such as pictorial images, drawings, or sketches are widely used for cross-disciplinary communication to bridge these gaps in order to build a joint understanding and support a computer mediated collaboration of spatially separated work groups. Originality/value - Concerning the described settings, the paper discusses the importance and presents practices of representation and structures in Computer-Supported Collaborative Work as common ground in cross-disciplinary processes using examples related to a) the reconstruction and visualisation of "lost" buildings in humanities and b) spatial-based generic configurations inspired by architectural theory and the design of public spaces. Design/methodology/approach - To cope with these challenges the authors combined both theory-driven and empirical methodological approaches for research and performed three stages of analysis. The first stage was a content analysis for publications to examine current usage and production scenarios of virtual 3D models in cultural heritage, its outcome and purposes. A second stage included four case studies to examine aspects of communication about the reconstructed architecture and their evolution during a project creation process. A third stage investigates aspects of the usage of architecture as media and common ground of cross-disciplinary understanding comparing sociological approaches to virtual and mediated spaces. Practical implications - The article will provide practical implications on how practices of visual representation and the usage of structures such as architecture as common ground will foster cross-disciplinary processes.