Joint Problem-solving: Overcoming Membership Instability in Cross-boundary Teams

Abstract

Understanding how teams perform fast-paced, cross-boundary work is critical for organizations operating in dynamic environments. In these contexts, teams often form quickly, change often and cross organization, profession or sector boundaries, thus bearing little resemblance to the stable, bounded teams studied in most organizational research. In two studies, we explore how cross- boundary teams can work together effectively when team member instability limits opportunities to establish consistent structures, enhance team member familiarity and bridge knowledge differences. First, we conduct an inductive comparative case study of fourteen teams composed of medical care providers and community-based organization staff who came together to establish novel referral systems for chronic disease management services. We find that a team orientation focused on joint problem-solving helped teams make progress, despite membership instability. By contrast, a team orientation focused on establishing trusting relation...