Continuing conversations: looking back on a collaborative experience to harvest new insights for collective thinking and action

How do we make this work? Understanding cultural dimensions embedded in the collaboration of an international research project.
We are exploring the nature of intersubjectivity in group interaction, because of our experience as individual researchers coming from unique backgrounds and contexts, and collating our thoughts, experiences and ideas; sometimes undermining our personal identities in favour of a collective theme. Cultural dimensions have enriched our discussions and have led to developing an international perspective, but this had its own challenges / struggles: time,
discomfort, unlearning to mention a few. Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory was used to explore our collective behaviour and the importance we gave (or not) to this collective interest. Issues of ownership, although not overtly discussed, could be sometimes felt throughout the research and writing process. Each of us appropriated a section of the chapter and manifested power over it. This kind of collaboration, albeit its challenges, also facilitated critical thinking and deep learning. We engaged in dialogue and produced knowledge as a result of this struggle.