Abstract:

Background:
Erasmus+ projects involve interdisciplinary teams from different countries and backgrounds who are culturally different but who are working together to deliver common aims and products. Communication is one of the areas we should focus on to avoid misunderstandings and tensions that lead to underachieving objectives (Snellman, 2014). Managing culture and being able to communicate effectively is as important as working on the technical aspects in order to create products (Daim et al, 2012). This becomes of paramount importance within our partnership, where three different European universities are working together in the field of nurse education.
In our latest project (Digisim) our objective was to co-create materials for a simulation app in clinical skills to be shared across the partnership. Having a transparent communication system to understand cultural and technical differences in skills delivery was essential.

Aim:
To work effectively as an international interdisciplinary team to obtain a high quality product, and to establish cohesion and good communication whilst maintaining an awareness of cultural diversity and differences in working practices, nursing curricula and protocols. This abstract presents a digital tool called ARC which allowed critical and transparent reporting of different practices between countries.

Method:
Having previously agreed on procedures relevant to all organisations, each institution uploaded draft films on the clinical skills procedures on a platform called Canvas, and the teams discussed similarities and differences in these and how they could be addressed using ARC.

Arc as an innovative collaborative solution:
Arc is a video collaboration tool and it allows for immediate feedback in a rigorous manner because inputted text is added at precise, time-marked points on the video, generating discussion, and synchronised analysis. Arc was integrated onto Canvas and available to all team members.
Each institution reviewed the clinical procedures using the Arc media tool in the Canvas platform. Arc media enabled lecturers and researchers to watch a procedure, pause the video and add comments where differences in the procedures for their local context were found.

Findings and conclusions:
The ARC video platform has allowed us to co-create and develop a product, sharing contents and opinions in a precise and transparent manner.
Igniting discussion through ARC was easy and strengthened team cohesion. ARC has also helped to ensure consistency and evidence based practice.
Exploring co-creation at an international level is a complex process, and communication and understanding of differences in culture and practice has been essential. Using a digital platform like ARC improves communication and efficiency.

References:
[1] Snellman, Lilian (2014). Virtual teams: opportunities and challenges for e-leaders. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences- Vol 110, pp 1251-1261
[2] Daim, Tugrul et al. 2012. Exploring the communication breakdown in global virtual teams. International Journal of Project Management 30 (2012) 199–212

Keywords:

Communication, international team, cultural diversity, collaborative tool, Arc media tool, Arc video platform, digital platform.