The role of written texts in collaborative boundary work: a dynamic sociomaterial perspective

Abstract

Taking a sociomaterial perspective, this article considers the dynamic role of written texts as boundary objects in practices of collaborative boundary work, in which boundary spanners mobilize these objects to assist in the achievement of collective goals. Using an autoethnographic approach, we ask two questions (1) How can boundary spanners leverage written texts throughout the process of collaborative boundary work? and (2) How do these written texts affect the trajectory of the collaboration? Data were gathered during a governmental reform which affected two inter-organizational collaborations in the mental healthcare sector. Our findings show how different types of “textual work” practices – relationship-based, evidence-based, power-based and content-based practices – have different substantive and relational implications for the trajectory of collaboration over time. By unraveling how these textual work practices are enacted sequentially over time, and generate their substantive and relational effects in two cases of collaboration, our study contributes to a sociomaterial perspective on the dynamics of collaborative boundary work.