The boundary spanner's role in organizational learning: unleashing untapped potential

Abstract

PurposeThe organizational behavior and management literature has devoted a lot attention on processes and technology in organizational learning. There has been little work to examine the role of boundary spanners in organizational learning. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of boundary spanners in enhancing organizational learning.Design/methodology/approachThe existing boundary spanning literature was reviewed and the salient points on their role in organizational learning discussed.Practical implicationsThe paper offers a view on tapping the hidden potential of boundary spanners in organizations in order to enhance the organization's learning capacity form the external environment. Practicing manager would then be able to design knowledge processes to better support these boundary spanners that in turn promotes organizational learning.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing organizational learning literature by introducing the role of boundary spanners in organizational learning.