Boundary Object Theory Research Articles

Use of Focus Groups and Reflexive Thematic Analysis to Uncover the Essential Conditions for UK Built Environment Degree Apprenticeships

ABSTRACT Degree Apprenticeships within UK Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) organizations present a raft of unprecedented opportunities. However, little is understood on precisely how AEC Employer Organizations (EO’s) truly engage with Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) in order to create “meaningful” Built Environment Degree Apprenticeships. Understanding this challenge and minutia of this engagement forms the starting trajectory of this work. To do this, and informed by Boundary Object Theory, an interpretivist approach was used to capture qualitative data from transdisciplinary focus groups – representing domain experts from AEC/HEI sector bodies. Primary data was evaluated using reflexive thematic analysis. An integrated inductive/deductive approach was used to examine nuance, subjectivity, understanding and meaning. Research findings culminate in the form of a thematic map, highlighting four essential conditions to support the delivery of UK AEC DA’s; specifically, the need for: (i) Onboarding, (ii) Structure (iii) Cooperation, and, (iv) Infrastructure. These findings identified that the knowledge needed to support engagement goes beyond existing acknowledged boundaries – ergo, that the corollary impact of these essential conditions require much deeper understanding than first thought. These findings form part of a wider study, the results of which will be reported in later works.

Crossing boundaries in the delivery of healthcare - a qualitative study of an eHealth intervention in relation to boundary object theory.

With the increasing trend of digitalisation in the health sector, eHealth is being deployed to facilitate interaction between health professionals and service users without physical contact or close proximity. It became prominent during the COVID-19 era when mobility for physical meetings was restricted. Focusing on a video-supported digital toolkit, REACT-NOR, this study explored the experiences of caregivers and supporters in relation to the notion of boundary object. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 supporters and 11 caregivers to gather first-hand experience on the use of the digital tool. It emerged from the study that the use of REACT-NOR made a huge difference for the involved parties by bridging the knowledge gap between supporters and caregivers. The use of the video in particular was useful in engaging and emotionally connecting the supporters and caregivers, resulting in an exciting digital experience. The effectiveness of the digital tool can be explained in the context of a boundary object in that it facilitated the processes of transferring, translating and transforming knowledge. The tool exhibited the attributes of dynamism, flexibility, standardisation and shared structure, which resonates with the notion of a boundary object. An understanding of how boundary objects work is crucial especially with remote care, as depicted in this study, due to the fact that the transfer of knowledge involves multiple processes such as sharing of new and existing knowledge, translation to make it accessible to others and transformation to render it usable across different boundaries.

Large-scale construction programme resilience against creeping disruptions: Towards inter-project coordination

Extant resilience research in project management focused mainly on the project level and sudden disruptions. However, resilience at the programme level, especially resilience against creeping disruptions, remains unexplored. This study adopts boundary object theory as the theoretical lens to explore programme resilience against creeping disruptions. Based on the case study of a large-scale construction programme Expo 2020 Dubai, a process model is proposed to unveil how programme resilience can be fostered through inter-project coordination. The model includes roles (i.e., program coordinators and project managers) and processes (i.e., preparation, mobilisation and response phases) that impact the resilience of the programme. The three-phase resilience process further corresponds to three boundary object-based coordination mechanisms: pull, match, and push, respectively. This study not only contributes to the project/programme resilience and management literatures, but also advances knowledge on resilience.

Understanding the Data Management Plan as a Boundary Object through a Multi-stakeholder perspective


 A three-phase Delphi study was used to investigate an emerging community for research data management in Norway and their understanding and application of data management plans (DMPs). The findings reveal visions of what the DMP should be as well as different practice approaches, yet the stakeholders present common goals. This paper discusses the different perspectives on the DMP by applying Star and Griesemer’s theory of boundary objects (Star & Griesemer, 1989). The debate on what the DMP is and the findings presented are relevant to all research communities currently implementing DMP procedures and requirements. The current discussions about DMPs tend to be distant from the active researchers and limited to the needs of funders and institutions rather than to the usefulness for researchers. By analysing the DMP as a boundary object, plastic and adaptable yet with a robust identity (Star & Griesemer, 1989), and by translating between worlds where collaboration on data sharing can take place we expand the perspectives and include all stakeholders. An understanding of the DMP as a boundary object can shift the focus from shaping a DMP which fulfils funders’ requirements to enabling collaboration on data management and sharing across domains using standardised forms.

Standard quality as a boundary object—A conceptual study

AbstractThis is a conceptual article that uses the concept ‘boundary object’ in order to discuss what role the loosely defined notion ‘standard product quality’ plays with regard to coordination and controversies in the Norwegian agrifood market. The boundary object theory offers a unique approach to exploring the boundaries (shared spaces) between standard and non‐standard product qualities as framed by the involved actors. This theory emphasises the difference between doing and being: Analysing what quality does in social settings is a more informative approach than discussing what quality is. The core arguments are illustrated by a review of available studies of the Norwegian agrifood market. The first part of the article concludes that standard quality coordinates the hegemonic stakeholders (producers, retailers, regulators and consumers) without presupposing consensus between them. The second part of the article addresses the controversies in the boundaries between the hegemonic agricultural agrifood system and competing alternatives related to organic, terroir and animal welfare qualities. The study discerns no signs of any transformative quality turn‐away from the Norwegian hegemonic agrifood system and the inherent emphasise on ‘standard product’ quality. On the other hand, this is not static since different interpretations of quality continuously challenge each other.

Action Plans as Active Boundary Objects

This article presents how action plans are used as active boundary objects in the meeting between the client, the social worker, and the interprofessional partners within the four core social service areas in Denmark: children and families, handicap, adults at risk, and employment. Empirically, the article is based upon the analysis of 16 action plans and 21 interviews. The theory of boundary objects is applied to illustrate and explore how action plans can create integration across different social and professional domains, or worlds. The degree of integration is illustrated through the theory of interprofessional collaboration, which forms the basis of four ideal types of action plans as boundary objects: the joint plan, the professional one, the administrative one, and the symbolic plan. We find that action plans have a large but often unexploited potential as an active and effective boundary object and only a few functions as joint plans. In order to be an active boundary object, both user and interprofessional involvement are required in making the plans. This requires a highly structured and preferably systematic involvement in face-to-face dialogue meetings led by the social worker as well as frequent follow-up at a distance.

The theoretical basis of enterprise architecture: A critical review and taxonomy of relevant theories

Enterprise architecture is a collection of artifacts describing various aspects of an organization from an integrated business and IT perspective. Practicing enterprise architecture in organizations implies using these artifacts to facilitate information systems planning and improve business and IT alignment. Despite its long history, the enterprise architecture discipline still remains largely atheoretical and lacks a solid theoretical basis. Based on our previous empirical studies of the practical usage of enterprise architecture artifacts in multiple organizations and broad literature analysis, this conceptual article identifies and discusses in detail 10 theories that can be considered key for understanding how an enterprise architecture practice works: actor-network theory, boundary objects theory, cognitive fit theory, communities of practice theory, decision-making theories, information processing theory, knowledge management theory, management fashion theory, media richness theory, and uncertainty principle. Taken together, these theories offer a comprehensive theoretical view of an enterprise architecture practice explaining the role of enterprise architecture artifacts, their usability, and participation of stakeholders and, therefore, may constitute a theoretical basis of the entire enterprise architecture discipline. Although this article does not elaborate on any of these theories, it brings these theories to light, establishes their critical importance for comprehending an enterprise architecture practice, and positions them as central to the enterprise architecture discourse. Each of these theories can be leveraged by enterprise architecture scholars in their future studies for analyzing enterprise architecture practices through respective theoretical lenses. This article intends to provide fresh theoretical insights on enterprise architecture, spark new waves of theoretical enterprise architecture research, and contribute to the development of a sound theoretical foundation for the enterprise architecture discipline.

A boundary objects view of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in tourism

This paper uses boundary objects theory to advance a novel conceptualization of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs) in tourism and address gaps in our understanding of the environments within which physical and virtual elements of EEs interact, change and expand over time. An extensive literature review of select information science and organizational strategy literature is used to identify key characteristics of tourism EEs and situate the concept within a ‘tourism as system’ perspective. The resultant models demonstrate that tourism EEs represent an expanding meso-level experience space made up of actors engaged in multiple types of activities, complemented by an ever-expanding set of interactions, and driven by a variety of entrepreneurial behaviors and technological innovations. Theoretical implications suggest that future research should employ dynamic measurement approaches to understanding and measuring EE performance vis-a-vis the disruptive impact of digital technology. Practical implications for governments, communities, and global tourism organizations include the need for governance systems to expand opportunities for current EE players while encouraging the entry of new players through the creation of new tourism ventures.

Государственная граница как пограничный объект в сети трансграничного сотрудничества: случай границы Латвии, Эстонии и России

The aim of the article is to reveal the functioning of the state border as a boundary object in a cross-border cooperation network in the case of the internal and the external border of the EU. The author uses case study approach in the Latvian-Estonian-Russian border area, including both qualitative and quantitative data obtaining methods. The author uses S. L. Star and J. Griesemer’s boundary objects theory to analyze national border as a boundary object which is involved in cross-border cooperation network as the main actor which has both unifying and separating features.

Highlighting the Need for Collaboration Between Archaeologists and Information Professionals

The discipline of archaeology intersects with information science as it deals directly with the information of human history and prehistory through material culture. This paper examines the link between the disciplines of information science and archaeology within the context of the archaeological curation crisis, which has been exacerbated by the lack of attention to the curation of archaeological collections. While the issue and solutions have been identified in the scholarly literature, few sources discuss collaboration between archaeologists and information professionals as a potential solution. This paper on conceptualizes archaeological artifacts as archival records and analyzes the issue through boundary object theory and the records continuum model. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the complementary nature of the two disciplines and subsequently highlight the importance of collaboration between archaeologists and information professionals, as both discipline have the potential to identify areas of need and establish best practices to resolve this curation crisis.

Productive Contestation, Civil Society, and Global Governance: Human Rights as a Boundary Object in ICANN

Human rights have long been discussed in relation to global governance processes, but there has been disagreement about whether (and how) a consideration for human rights should be incorporated into the workings of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), one of the main bodies of Internet governance. Internet governance is generally regarded as a site of innovation in global governance; one in which civil society can, in theory, contribute equally with government and industry. This article uses the lens of boundary object theory to examine how civil society actors succeeded in inscribing human rights as a Core Value in ICANN's bylaws. As a “boundary object” in the negotiations, the concept of human rights provided enough interpretive flexibility to translate to the social realities of the various stakeholder groups, including government and industry. This consensus‐building process was bound by the organizing structure of the boundary object (human rights), and its ability to accommodate the interests of the different parties. The presence of civil society at the negotiating table demanded a shift in strategy from the usual “outsider” tactics of issue framing and agenda setting, to a more complex and iterative process of “productive contestation,” a consensus‐building process fueled by the differences of experience and interests of parties, bound together by the organizing structure of the boundary object. This article describes how this process ultimately resulted in the successful adoption of human rights in ICANN's bylaws.

Knowledge visualization: Critique of the St. Gallen School and an analysis of contemporary trends

Tatiana A. Gavrilova - Professor, Head of Department of Information Technologies in Management, Saint-Petersburg UniversityAddress: 3, Volkhovsky Pereulok, St. Petersburg, 199004, Russian FederationE-mail: gavrilova@gsom.pu.ruArtem I. Alsufyev - Assistant Professor, Department of Organizational Behavior and Personnel Management, Saint-Petersburg UniversityAddress: 3, Volkhovsky Pereulok, St. Petersburg, 199004, Russian FederationE-mail: alsufyev@gsom.pu.ruElvira Y. Grinberg - Doctoral Student, Department of Information Technologies in Management, Saint-Petersburg UniversityAddress: 3, Volkhovsky Pereulok, St. Petersburg, 199004, Russian FederationE-mail: st057454@student.spbu.ru The purpose of this article is the analysis of leading European research in the field of knowledge visualization from the point of view of the accumulated theoretical base, practice of application, problems, and trends. The need for digital business transformation for survival in the era of high-speed, mobile intelligent applications and big data has become apparent. However, understanding and interpretation of information can be performed only by humans. Modern managers cope with information “explosion” through visualization. Visualization helps them to understand, to compress and to demonstrate the ocean of numbers, words, and ideas. The number of works devoted to the theme of visualization is growing every year. There are numerous studies on the visualization of networks and relationships, and visualization of communication with a consumer. Fewer articles have been devoted to the visualization of knowledge in the implementation of business practices. At the same time, scientists are examining one specific area of application of visualization and only a few contribute to the theory of the subject and study it in a versatile manner. The latter include the works of researchers from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), which we call in this article the St. Gallen School. We propose systematization of the following basic stages of research formation of the aforementioned School: 1) the preliminary stage, 2) the stage of empirical data accumulation, and 3) the stage of theory development. The School’s contribution to the theory and practice of management was analyzed. Its contribution to theory includes the classification of visualization techniques, a description of visualization use in business, the development of the boundary objects theory, as well as a detailed description of experimental studies. Contribution to business practices means implementation of educational projects and the development of new visual models. The fragmented nature of research is identified: theoretical work is focused on how several visual models influence the implementation of certain business practices; empirical work often describes consulting projects, but do not provide an understanding of how to apply visualization techniques when there is no researcher-consultant. Based on our analysis of the literature, we demonstrate that the major trend in information processing is focus on knowledge representation based on data, not data as such. The challenging areas related to applied research methods are highlighted as follows: lack of consistency, and lack of distinction between the concepts of “data visualization” and “knowledge visualization”. Thus, there is a need to distinguish visualization of knowledge in a separate area of study.This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 15-18-30048)

Explaining value co-creation and co-destruction in e-government using boundary object theory

This article contributes to the understanding of e-government collaboration, value co-creation and co-destruction when using information systems (IS) artifacts. This is achieved through case study research, based on collaborations between the Swedish Forest Agency and external communities that were intended to co-create value. The collaborations were supported by an IS environment, comprising two IS artifacts that has been in use for several years. The analysis was based on sociomaterial boundary object theory. The philosophical framework underpinning the investigation of the interplay between technological and social aspects of the IS-enabled co-creation processes, i.e. the collaborations, was critical realism. The purpose of this article is, therefore, to analyze the co-creation processes supported by the IS artifacts (viewed as boundary objects) and to consider the outcomes, in terms of value co-creation and co-destruction, of the collaborations.The results show that value is both co-created and co-destroyed in the collaborative processes. The main conclusions are: (i) it is difficult to define value co-creation and co-destruction when the boundaries between collaborating communities are complex; (ii) when boundaries are complex, collaboration requires complex IS artifacts; (iii) the risk of co-destruction outcomes increases with boundary complexity. Finally, the article demonstrates that sociomaterial boundary objects provide a suitable theoretical framework for investigations of value co-creation and co-destruction through IS artifacts in e-government.

Boundary objects in information science

Boundary objects (BOs) are abstract or physical artifacts that exist in the liminal spaces between adjacent communities of people. The theory of BOs was originally introduced by Star and Griesemer in a study on information practices at the Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology but has since been adapted in a broad range of research contexts in a large number of disciplines including the various branches of information science. The aim of this review article is to present an overview of the state‐of‐the‐art of information science research informed by the theory of BOs, critically discuss the notion, and propose a structured overview of how the notion has been applied in the study of information.

The Impact of Institutional Distance on the Joint Performance of Collaborating Firms: The Role of Adaptive Interorganizational Systems

Firms have made extensive use of interorganizational systems (IOSs) to share knowledge and pursue superior joint performance. Contemporary firms are using IOSs to collaborate widely across the value chain and in an ever-expanding geographic landscape. Thus, institutional distance, which is the difference between the firms’ respective institutional fields, has become a prominent challenge. In this study, we investigate the extent to which institutional distance affects IOS-enabled knowledge sharing and its impact on the joint performance of collaborating firms. We also explore the extent to which IOS adaptability could be a design solution for improving IOS-enabled knowledge sharing, given the challenge of institutional distance. Drawing on institutional theory, we propose that institutional distance, differentially influential via its normative, cognitive, and regulative aspects, not only reduces IOS-enabled knowledge sharing but also weakens the positive impact of such sharing on joint firm performance. Next, extending boundary object theory to the institutional context, we propose that IOS adaptability could be a solution to the challenge of institutional distance because it can directly strengthen IOS-enabled knowledge sharing as well as mitigate the negative effect of institutional distance on such sharing. Our hypotheses were tested through a field study that collected dyadic data from 141 distinct buyer/supplier channel relationships in 4 industries. The results from partial least squares modeling fully support our hypotheses with regard to cognitive distance, partially support those related to normative distance, but do not support those related to regulative distance. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory development and professional practice. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2016.0675 .

Boundary spaces, objects and activities in mixed-actor knowledge production: making fishery management plans in collaboration

This paper investigates knowledge production in collaborations where the actors have different knowledge and interests. Building on boundary object theory, a conceptual framework is developed to analyse knowledge exchange in two stakeholder-led collaborations to make fishery management plans. The framework introduces boundary spaces to conceptualise the dynamic interaction between objects and activities. Within boundary spaces, actors can share, transfer and translate their knowledge, and common understanding can emerge. The collaborations analysed aimed to produce management plans for the Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) fishery in the North Sea and the boarfish (Capros aper) fishery in the Northeast Atlantic. Several boundary spaces were identified in each collaboration. During the production phase, the emerging management plans took on multiple representations as boundary objects that facilitated knowledge exchange. Activities were essential, as these created entry points for different actors to become part of the boundary spaces where they could contribute to knowledge production. Fishing industry representatives in the North Sea Advisory Council and the Pelagic Advisory Council played key roles in initiating and coordinating activities. The case studies demonstrate that Advisory Councils take on pro-active roles in initiatives that aim to expand the knowledge base for European fisheries management. Direct engagement was instrumental to create ownership of the problem addressed in the various collaborative settings that emerged during the management plan initiatives.

Transforming the “Third Mission” in Norwegian Higher Education Institutions: A Boundary Object Theory Approach

ABSTRACTHigher education institutions (HEIs) in Norway have been subjected to several reforms in recent decades. There are transformed relationships between institutions and their environment, and higher educations’ third mission is emphasized. To improve our understanding of HEIs’ third mission, this paper employs boundary object theory, enabling us to see how shifting projects are shaped and negotiated within these institutions. The paper concludes with a discussion of five main projects that are evident in third-mission presentations: the entrepreneurial project, the local and regional involvement project, the mode 2 project, the popular-science project, and the reputation project.

Mobile Technologies as Boundary Objects in the Hands of Student Teachers of Languages Inside and Outside the University

This paper presents the use of mobile devices by students of linguistics, future foreign language teachers, outside the university and in-campus, and their vision of the potential usefulness of such devices for language learning at tertiary level. As various characteristics of mobile devices influence their usability, users select a device to fit specific needs. This article discusses student teachers' preferences of the use of mobile devices in the light of boundary objects theory (Star, Griesemer, 1989; Star 2010). Although they use mobile phones mainly for communication and orientation in both contexts, the funcionalities are different. For example, they use phone calls outside the university versus sms in-campus, city public-transport website versus weekly schedule. The device turns out to be so flexible that allows for a selective use of its functionality depending on the context.

Best of both worlds: hybrid knowledge visualization in police crime fighting and military operations

Purpose – This paper aims to study hybrid knowledge visualization in police crime fighting and military operations. Making effective and timely use of all available, relevant knowledge is a major requirement for today’s police officers who strive to fight organized crime or resolve complex criminal acts under time pressure. As they share this knowledge integration challenge with many management contexts, the authors have examined the knowledge visualization practices of a leading regional police force (and of a military unit) to derive insights for corporate knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach – To examine the knowledge visualization practices of a leading regional police force, the authors have conducted on-site observations, focus groups and interviews, as well as site, document, tool and software analyses within the police headquarters. Findings – As one main result of their empirical investigation, the authors find that the police force’s practice of hybrid (i.e. digital and physical) knowledge visualization offers a useful strategy for corporate knowledge management as well. They also show how organizations can apply this dual approach to making knowledge visible, i.e. using sophisticated visualization software in combination with hands-on physical and permanently visible knowledge boards. Originality/value – They discuss how these two modalities can be combined to improve knowledge management and how this hybrid practice can be understood theoretically through the lens of boundary object theory. With this regard, this article also extends the boundary object theory by identifying nine dynamic qualities of collaborative visualizations.

Lost in translation? ‘Evidence’ and the articulation of institutional logics in integrated care pathways: from positive to negative boundary object?

This article examines the translation of a clinical governance concept - integrated care pathways (ICPs)--into an infrastructural technology. Building on previous work, the application of boundary object theory is extended in this article to argue that stakeholder enrolment in pathway methodology may be less thoroughgoing than originally assumed. Pathways have effectively aligned management and nursing interests around a quality agenda and nurses have emerged as the leaders in this field, but doctors have rather lower levels of engagement. It is suggested that the contradictory logics inherent in pathway philosophy (primarily as these relate to 'evidence') and the social organisation of ICP development foster a transformation of the concept when this is translated into the technology, creating a negative boundary object from the perspective of doctors. Medicine is a powerful actor in health care, which is consequential for whether pathways, as designated boundary objects, become boundary objects-in-use. It also has implications for the diffusion of the concept as a mechanism of clinical governance and the credibility of nurses as emergent leaders in this field. Qualitative case studies of ICP development processes undertaken in the UK National Health Service and ethnographic research on the ICP community provide the empirical foundations for the analysis.