From Boundary Spanning to Intergroup Knowledge Integration: The Role of Boundary Spanners’ Metaknowledge and Proactivity

Abstract

AbstractIntergroup knowledge integration, that is the acquisition, processing, and utilization of knowledge across group boundaries, is a critical source of competitive advantage in modern organizations. Prior research has highlighted the important role of boundary spanning knowledge exchange for intergroup knowledge integration, neglecting, however, the question of what makes individual boundary spanners more effective in fostering intergroup knowledge integration. Integrating boundary spanning literature with theories of group information processing, we hypothesize that the effect of individual boundary spanning ties on intergroup knowledge integration depends on the boundary spanners’ levels of metaknowledge, i.e., knowledge of who knows what in their respective groups, and proactivity. We find general support for our predictions in a study of 457 engineering consultants nested in 22 interdependent business units within an organization. Additional criterion analyses confirm the material importance of intergroup knowledge integration for group performance. Our findings have implications for literatures on intergroup effectiveness, team cognition, and proactivity.