Critical Issues in the Functioning of Interdisciplinary Groups

Interdisciplinary task groups have become an increasingly important part of work life in the present postindustrial era. In his attempt to forecast trends for the succeeding 25 to 50 years, Bennis (1965) optimistically predicted the death of bureaucracy and the increased use of temporary, interdisciplinary teams, brought together to work on specific tasks or problems. As Hackman and Morris (1975: 45-46) note: