Resourceful sensemaking in product development teams

In this paper we attempt to bridge the gap between theory and practice by d eveloping the concept of 'resourceful sensemaking'.(1) Resourceful sensemak ing is the ability to appreciate the perspectives of others and use this un derstanding to enact horizon-expanding discourse. Using a critical events t echnique, we assess the resourcefulness of the sensemaking activities of in dividuals in interdisciplinary product development teams. Data include rese archers' and stakeholders' observations of teams in action, careful reviews of documents and questionnaires completed by team members and selected sta keholders, and interviews with team members and other stakeholders during, and six months after completion of, the projects. We focus attention on the articulation of the resourceful sensemaking concept rather than on the for mulation of testable propositions. We end the paper with a discussion of th e implications of our study for work organizations using interdisciplinary product development teams.