This volume on communication in transdisciplinary teams is timely for two reasons: the number and size of research teams has increased, and communication is a primary criterion for success in both inter- and trans-disciplinary collaborations. This introduction provides an overview of theory and practice aimed at orienting readers to pertinent literature then previews the chapters that follow. First, though, preliminary definition is in order. Relevant insights are dispersed across literatures on both inter- and trans-disciplinarity, raising the question of how they differ (Klein, 2017).

Interdisciplinarity (ID) integrates information, data, methods, tools, concepts, or theories from two or more disciplines or bodies of knowledge in order to address a complex question, problem, topic, or theme. Solo interdisciplinarians work independently, but communication across boundaries is essential to collaboration.

Transdisciplinarity (TD) transcends disciplinary worldviews by generating overarching synthetic frameworks and, in a connotation that arose in the late 20th century, problem-oriented research that crosses boundaries of academic, public, and private spheres by engaging stakeholders in co-production of knowledge. It also connotes teamwork aimed at generating new conceptual and methodological frameworks.

We combine insights from literatures on inter- and trans-disciplinarity in order to acknowledge parallels between the two concepts. Authors of chapters of this volume differ in their conceptualization and use of the terms, as well as the focus of their research. We preserve their original uses of the two terms but synthesize lessons from both literatures in order to arrive at a more robust understanding of the dynamics of communication in teamwork that transcends knowledge boundaries. In the course of our discussion, we also employ nine related concepts defined in the text box: including pidgin and creole, collaborative interdisciplinary reasoning, communicative action, collaborative communication competence, team climate, socio-cognitive platforms for interdisciplinary collaboration, a cooperation and communication culture, mutual and integrative learning, and knowledge convergence.