Professional cultures and collaborative efforts: A case study of technologists and educators working for change

The need for those working in a variety of settings to interact effectively with technical experts has grown dramatically in recent years as computers have become essential to the performance of an increasing broad range of p rofessional work. This article presents a case of this sort of interprofess ional interaction, exploring the process and outcomes of collaboration betw een technical professionals and educators working to bring Internet access to an urban public school district. Drawing on field note and interview dat a, the case reported here illustrates how differences in institutional rout ines and professional values can generate differing agendas, contrasting as sumptions, and contrasting expectations concerning project products and out comes among collaborators from different professional worlds. In the case w e describe, these differences affected such central matters as the types an d usefulness of technical resources to which users had access as well as us ers' confidence in the technology. The case also illustrates how aspects of this interprofessional conflict were addressed through an organizational c hange. The kinds of issues that arose in this project are likely to occur i n a variety of professional settings; therefore, examination of this case p rovides insight into a variety of issues and dynamics that should be consid ered when embarking upon or analyzing any interprofessional collaborative e ffort, and particularly one that involves technical professionals.