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Understanding the role of objects in cross-disciplinary collaboration
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Nicolini, Davide, Mengis, Jeanne and Swan, Jacky (2012) Understanding the role of objects in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Organization Science, Volume 23 (Number 3). pp. 612-629. doi:10.1287/orsc.1110.0664 ISSN 1047-7039.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1110.0664
Abstract
In this paper we make a case for the use of multiple theoretical perspectives – theory on boundary objects, epistemic objects, cultural historical activity theory and objects as infrastructure - to understand the role of objects in cross-disciplinary collaboration. A pluralist approach highlights that objects perform at least three types of work in this context: they motivate collaboration; they allow participants to work across different types of boundaries; and they constitute the fundamental infrastructure of the activity. Building on the results of an empirical study we illustrate the insights that each theoretical lens affords into practices of collaboration and develop a novel analytical framework that organizes objects according to the active work they perform. Our framework can help shed new light on the phenomenon, especially with regards the shifting status of objects and sources of conflict (and change) in collaboration. After discussing these novel insights, we outline directions for future research stemming from a pluralist approach. We conclude by noting the managerial implications of our findings
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Innovation, Knowledge & Organisational Networks Research Unit Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Management -- Research , Social sciences -- Philosophy, Work -- Research | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Organization Science | ||||
Publisher: | Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (I N F O R M S) | ||||
ISSN: | 1047-7039 | ||||
Official Date: | May 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Volume 23 | ||||
Number: | Number 3 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 612-629 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1287/orsc.1110.0664 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 25 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 25 December 2015 | ||||
Funder: | Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC), Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) | ||||
Grant number: | R.IBIK.9002, R.IBIK.9002 extension (2006) |
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