Collaborative Technologies as Boundary Objects Shape Organisational Identity
Category: Innovation & Design · Effect: Strong effect · Year: 2008
Introducing new collaborative technologies can act as 'boundary objects' that not only facilitate information sharing but also redefine an organisation's identity and influence adjacent organisations.
Design Takeaway
When designing or implementing collaborative systems, consider their dual role in enabling function and shaping identity, and how this might cascade to partner organisations.
Why It Matters
Understanding how new technologies function as boundary objects is crucial for managing organisational change. Designers and strategists can leverage this understanding to anticipate and guide the impact of new tools on internal culture and external relationships.
Key Finding
New shared technologies act as 'boundary objects' that help different groups work together and also help define who each organisation is, with changes in these objects rippling across connected organisations.
Key Findings
- Boundary objects (collaborative technologies) facilitate cross-organisational communication and collaboration.
- Boundary objects are used as a resource to form and reinforce organisational identities.
- Changes in boundary objects can trigger dynamic processes of change in information infrastructures and organisational identities, influencing bordering organisations.
Research Evidence
Aim: How do collaborative information systems, conceptualised as boundary objects, influence organisational identities and information infrastructures within and across organisations during technology-enabled change?
Method: Case Study
Procedure: Four case studies were conducted to examine the introduction of 3D modelling tools in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, focusing on the resulting organisational changes.
Context: Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry
Design Principle
Collaborative tools can serve as potent boundary objects, influencing both operational synergy and organisational self-perception.
How to Apply
When introducing a new shared digital tool, actively consider how it will be perceived and used by different teams and organisations, and how this perception might evolve over time.
Limitations
The findings are based on a specific industry (AEC) and may not generalise to all contexts. The study focuses on the introduction phase of technology, not its long-term evolution.
Student Guide (IB Design Technology)
Simple Explanation: When you introduce a new tool that people from different teams or companies use together, it doesn't just help them work, it can also change how they see themselves and their organisation.
Why This Matters: This helps you understand that a product isn't just about its features; it's also about how it impacts people's sense of belonging and how different groups interact.
Critical Thinking: To what extent can a design proactively shape organisational identity, and what are the ethical considerations involved?
IA-Ready Paragraph: The introduction of the [your product/system] can be conceptualised as the implementation of a boundary object. This object not only facilitates [specific collaborative function] but also has the potential to shape the organisational identities of its users and influence inter-organisational dynamics.
Project Tips
- When researching a new product, think about how it might be used by different groups and how that could affect their sense of identity.
- Consider how a product's shared use could influence relationships between different organisations or departments.
How to Use in IA
- Discuss how your design could act as a boundary object, facilitating collaboration and potentially influencing user identity.
- Analyse how the introduction of your designed product might affect the relationships and perceptions between different user groups or organisations.
Examiner Tips
- Look for evidence that the student has considered the social and identity-related impacts of their design, not just its functional aspects.
- Assess whether the student has explored how their design might mediate relationships between different user groups or organisations.
Independent Variable: Introduction of new collaborative technology (boundary object).
Dependent Variable: Organisational identity, information infrastructure, cross-organisational communication and collaboration.
Strengths
- Provides a framework for understanding the social impact of technology beyond mere functionality.
- Highlights the dynamic and cascading effects of technology adoption across organisational boundaries.
Critical Questions
- How can designers intentionally design boundary objects to foster positive organisational identities?
- What are the potential negative consequences of technologies acting as boundary objects, such as reinforcing silos or creating conflict?
Extended Essay Application
- Investigate the role of a specific digital platform (e.g., a project management tool, a social media platform) as a boundary object within a community or organisation.
- Analyse how the design of a shared digital space influences the collective identity and collaborative practices of its users.
Source
Boundary Matters: The Dynamics of Boundary Objects, Information Infrastructures, and Organisational Identities · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · 2008