IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/zbw/hsuopa/2.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Functions of boundary spanning in context: A postcolonial, power-sensitive perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Collien, Isabel

Abstract

Functions of boundary spanning have seldom been the focal point in boundary spanning research. This is surprising given the close entanglement of interests and power (relations), and the early emergence of power-sensitive boundary spanning studies. This paper traces the influence of macro-level, race-related power relations on functions of boundary spanning, using the example of a German public administration. The findings show that power relations influence why and how actors engage in boundary spanning across levels of analysis. A counter-hegemonic reading of the results shows that the particular functions of boundary spanning resemble colonial patterns of mediating between the colonizer and the colonized.

Suggested Citation

  • Collien, Isabel, 2019. "Functions of boundary spanning in context: A postcolonial, power-sensitive perspective," Working Papers 2, Helmut Schmidt University, Research Cluster OPAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:hsuopa:2
    DOI: 10.24405/14435
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/266210/1/opal-wp02.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.24405/14435?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen & Mats Ehrnrooth & Alexei Koveshnikov & Kristiina Mä;kelä, 2014. "Cultural and language skills as resources for boundary spanning within the MNC," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(7), pages 886-905, September.
    2. Anshuman Prasad, 2003. "The Gaze of the Other: Postcolonial Theory and Organizational Analysis," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Anshuman Prasad (ed.), Postcolonial Theory and Organizational Analysis: A Critical Engagement, chapter 0, pages 3-43, Palgrave Macmillan.
    3. David B. Jemison, 1984. "The Importance Of Boundary Spanning Roles In Strategic Decision‐Making [I]," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 131-152, April.
    4. Au, Kevin Y. & Fukuda, John, 2002. "Boundary spanning behaviors of expatriates," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 285-296, January.
    5. Johnson, Karen L. & Duxbury, Linda, 2010. "The view from the field: A case study of the expatriate boundary-spanning role," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 29-40, January.
    6. Thomas Klueter & Felipe Monteiro, 2017. "How Does Performance Feedback Affect Boundary Spanning in Multinational Corporations? Insights from Technology Scouts," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 483-510, June.
    7. Michael J.D. Roberts & Paul W. Beamish, 2017. "The Scaffolding Activities of International Returnee Executives: A Learning Based Perspective of Global Boundary Spanning," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 511-539, June.
    8. Butler, Christina L. & Zander, Lena & Mockaitis, Audra & Sutton, Ciara, 2012. "The Global Leader as Boundary Spanner, Bridge Maker, and Blender," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 5(2), pages 240-243, June.
    9. Ryan, Annmarie & O’Malley, Lisa, 2016. "The role of the boundary spanner in bringing about innovation in cross-sector partnerships," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 1-9.
    10. Julian Birkinshaw & Tina C. Ambos & Cyril Bouquet, 2017. "Boundary Spanning Activities of Corporate HQ Executives Insights from a Longitudinal Study," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 422-454, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Julia Backmann & Rouven Kanitz & Amy Wei Tian & Patrick Hoffmann & Martin Hoegl, 2020. "Cultural gap bridging in multinational teams," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(8), pages 1283-1311, October.
    2. Andreas P. J. Schotter & Ram Mudambi & Yves L. Doz & Ajai Gaur, 2017. "Boundary Spanning in Global Organizations," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 403-421, June.
    3. Santistevan, Diana, 2022. "Boundary-spanning coordination: Insights into lateral collaboration and lateral alignment in multinational enterprises," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).
    4. Liu, Yipeng & Meyer, Klaus E., 2020. "Boundary spanners, HRM practices, and reverse knowledge transfer: The case of Chinese cross-border acquisitions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(2).
    5. Diana Santistevan, 2022. "Boundary-spanning coordination: Insights into lateral collaboration and lateral alignment in multinational enterprises," Post-Print hal-04300612, HAL.
    6. Tzeng, Cheng-Hua, 2018. "How foreign knowledge spillovers by returnee managers occur at domestic firms: An institutional theory perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 625-641.
    7. Pedersen, Torben & Soda, Giuseppe & Stea, Diego, 2019. "Globally networked: Intraorganizational boundary spanning in the global organization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(3), pages 169-180.
    8. Ilya R. P. Cuypers & Gokhan Ertug & John Cantwell & Akbar Zaheer & Martin Kilduff, 2020. "Making connections: Social networks in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(5), pages 714-736, July.
    9. Smita Prashant Chattopadhyay & Madhuchhanda Das Aundhe, 2021. "Vendor boundary spanning in Indian Information Technology (IT) companies," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 1139-1177, September.
    10. Michael J.D. Roberts & Paul W. Beamish, 2017. "The Scaffolding Activities of International Returnee Executives: A Learning Based Perspective of Global Boundary Spanning," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 511-539, June.
    11. Furusawa, Masayuki & Brewster, Chris, 2019. "The Determinants of the Boundary-spanning Functions of Japanese Self-initiated Expatriates in Japanese Subsidiaries in China: Individual Skills and Human Resource Management," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(4).
    12. Ilya R. P. Cuypers & Gokhan Ertug & John Cantwell & Akbar Zaheer & Martin Kilduff, 0. "Making connections: Social networks in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    13. Anne Bartel-Radic & Fabienne Munch, 2023. "Cross-cultural boundary spanning activities in a global team," Post-Print halshs-04148890, HAL.
    14. Urzelai, Berrbizne & Puig, Francisco, 2019. "Developing international social capital: The role of communities of practice and clustering," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 209-221.
    15. Bredenkötter Bastian, 2019. "Grenzstellenarbeit in transnationalen Arbeitsumgebungen: Expatriate-Manager als ‚Boundary-Spanner‘ in translokalen und transkulturellen ‚Workscapes‘," Arbeit, De Gruyter, vol. 28(3), pages 215-240, September.
    16. Naoki Ando, 2016. "Similarity to successful peers and the implications for subsidiary performance," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 15(2), pages 110-136, April.
    17. Celo, Sokol & Lehrer, Mark, 2022. "How much lateral collaboration is optimal? Insights from computer simulations of MNEs as complex adaptive systems," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).
    18. Karimikia, Hadi & Bradshaw, Robert & Singh, Harminder & Ojo, Adegboyega & Donnellan, Brian & Guerin, Michael, 2022. "An emergent taxonomy of boundary spanning in the smart city context – The case of smart Dublin," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    19. Westney, D. Eleanor & Piekkari, Rebecca & Koskinen, Kaisa & Tietze, Susanne, 2022. "Crossing borders and boundaries: Translation ecosystems in international business," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    20. Gabriela Gutierrez-Huerter O & Jeremy Moon & Stefan Gold & Wendy Chapple, 2020. "Micro-processes of translation in the transfer of practices from MNE headquarters to foreign subsidiaries: The role of subsidiary translators," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(3), pages 389-413, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:zbw:hsuopa:2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/bgbwhde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.