Position Paper: Knowledge Sharing and Distances in Collaborative Modeling

To develop systems effectively, a shared system understanding is required. Collaborative modeling is one way to capture this shared understanding. Increasingly, in large systems engineering projects different distances lead to social barriers between stakeholders. These barriers affect the quantity and quality of knowledge that is shared between stakeholders, thus reducing the quality of the resulting product. While it has been proposed to limit modeling activities to co-located teams, this might not always be possible or feasible. We argue that, despite the technological advances in collaborative modeling, effective collaboration can only be achieved if we understand how to account for social barriers. We propose to study, in depth, how these barriers affect modeling, and how their effects can be reduced. By understanding the effects of social barriers and accounting for them, we can maximize the benefits of collaborative modeling.