Improving Collaboration in Ambiguous Settings by Recognizing the Importance of a Common Domain Vocabulary: An Active Learning Exercise

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of an active learning exercise designed to help undergraduate IT/IS (Information Technology/Information Systems) and business students recognize the importance of a common domain vocabulary for collaboration in the ambiguous settings which will be endemic in their careers as IT/IS professionals. We provide preliminary results to promote further research. We also investigated and assessed the robustness of our learning exercise with students with high exam performance and with low performance, and with students in the US and China, all showing improved recognition of the importance of a common domain vocabulary for collaboration. We present relevant literature, provide a detailed description of our active learning exercise, discuss our preliminary findings, identify limitations, and suggest future research.