Managing collaboration: adding communication and documentation environment (CDE) to a product development cycle

The purpose of this paper is to describe a repeatable process for managing communication and interaction patterns of multidisciplinary teams during the product development life cycle. We describe and illustrate a systemic communication and documentation model used to produce e-learning computer games with the challenges of a high turnover rate in participants. The model is being used with interdisciplinary college students as part of Illinois Institute of Technology's Interprofessional Program that brings together students from diverse disciplines to solve real-world challenges.