Boundary Objects, Social Meanings and the Success of New Technologies

Abstract

Boundary objects are entities that enhance the capacity of an idea, theory or practice to translate across culturally defined boundaries, for example, between communities of knowledge or practice. This concept thus has potential to both explain and predict technology adoption; however, it remains sociologically under-theorized. This article assesses, by recourse to a historical case study of innovations in surgical sterility, how boundary objects work and their relationship to social meanings within communities of practice. It is concluded that not only are there positive and negative boundary objects, but that technological devices or processes may themselves act as facilitative or inhibitory boundary objects during innovation. The approach set out here has potential as a sociologically informed model of improving adoption of technologies and policies by managing the positive and negative social meanings of technology objects.

Building Bridges between healthcare professionals, patients and families: A coproduced and integrated approach to self-management support in stroke

“…This has been possible through the cumulative input of many hundreds of healthcare professionals enacting and integrating self-management support and feeding back to us about their successes and challenges (Jones, Livingstone, & Hawkes, 2012). By arriving at a shared meaning and learning from each other's perspectives we aim to move more towards a 'community of practice' which has the potential to both understand and facilitate adoption of Bridges as an innovation (Fox, 2011).…”

R&D CONSORTIA AS BOUNDARY ORGANISATIONS: MISALIGNMENT AND ASYMMETRY OF BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT

“…While it is hardly possible to minimise the amount of reporting in complex contractual settings such as R&D consortia, it is worth making sure that R&D managers use project reports and databases as 'facilitative boundary objects' (Fox, 2011) enhancing learning and knowledge sharing among the partner organisations and individual projects rather than 'ticking the boxes' (also see Swan et al, 2010). Delegations and site visits could be useful 'boundary encounters' (Wenger, 1998) complementing more traditional project meetings and enabling R&D partners to have a glimpse into each other's practices.…”

Facilitating technology adoption in the NHS: negotiating the organisational and policy context – a qualitative study

“…135,136 In the context of innovation, boundary work plays a key role in the adoption of ideas, practices or technologies within and across organisational settings. 137 Here the relevant communities of practice and associated barriers might relate to differences such as professional commitments (technology providers vs. clinicians; primary vs. secondary care) and levels of technical knowledge. 137 Organisational barriers within and between sectors can limit the appropriate use of technologies; they can also make supply and demand issues more difficult to negotiate.…”

“…137 Here the relevant communities of practice and associated barriers might relate to differences such as professional commitments (technology providers vs. clinicians; primary vs. secondary care) and levels of technical knowledge. 137 Organisational barriers within and between sectors can limit the appropriate use of technologies; they can also make supply and demand issues more difficult to negotiate. Conversely, boundary work and boundary spanning roles have the potential to facilitate technology transfer along the adoption pathway.…”