Boundary resource interactions in solution networks

Purpose This study aims to explore the interactions between two different and potentially complementary boundary resources in coordinating solution networks in a digital platform context: boundary spanners (those individuals who span interorganizational boundaries) and boundary interfaces (the devices that help coordinate interfirm relationships, e.g. electronic data interchanges, algorithms or chatbots). Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a multiple case study of three firms using digital platforms to coordinate solution networks in the information communication technology and lighting facility industries. Data were collected from 30 semi-structured interviews, which are complemented by secondary data. Findings As task complexity increases, smarter digital interfaces are adopted. When the intelligence level of interfaces is low or moderate, they are only used as tools by boundary spanners or to support boundary spanners’ functions. When the intelligence level of interfaces is high or very high, boundary spanners design the interfaces and let them perform tasks autonomously. They are also sometimes employed to complement interfaces’ technological limitations and customers’ limited user ability. Research limitations/implications The industry contexts of the cases may influence the results. Qualitative case data has limited generalizability. Practical implications This study offers a practical tool for solution providers to effectively deploy boundary employees and digital technologies to offer diverse customized solutions simultaneously. Originality This study contributes to the solution business literature by putting forward a framework of boundary resource interactions in coordinating solution networks in a digital platform context. It contributes to the boundary spanning literature by revealing the shifting functions of boundary spanners and boundary interfaces.

The activities of the organizational boundary spanners during the Covid19 pandemic: the case of a profit organization

In the first period of emergency from Covid19, only workplace organizations with essential production activities were able to continue to carry out their work. This required them the implementation of organizational strategies useful to contrast the risk of the pandemic and to protect production performance. The qualitative study conducted in a Lombard company, through semi-structured interviews, aimed at figures with different levels of responsibility, wanted to investigate: (i) which boundary spanning activities were used to manage the emergency? (ii) what factors allowed the effectiveness of the result in terms of contrasting the pandemic and guaranteeing the productivity (iii), what were the perceived effects on the company? Findings highlight the importance of the activities of organizational boundary spanners in emergency management and of those factors that, by supporting the socio-emotional dimension, have determined the organization’s productive advantage. Le attività dei boundary spanners organizzativi durante la pandemia da Covid19: il caso di un’organizzazione profit. Nel primo periodo della diffusione dell’emergenza sanitaria da Covid19, solo le organizzazioni lavorative con attività produttive essenziali hanno potuto continuare a svolgere il loro lavoro. Questo ha richiesto loro la messa in atto di strategie organizzative utili a contrastare il rischio della diffusione della pandemia e a salvaguardare la performance produttiva. Lo studio qualitativo condotto, in un’organizzazione profit lombarda, tramite interviste semistrutturate, rivolte a figure con diversi livelli di responsabilità ha voluto investigare: (i) quali attività di boundary spanning sono state utilizzate per gestire l’emergenza? (ii) quali fattori hanno consentito l’efficacia di risultato in termini di contrasto alla pandemia e di garanzia produttività (iii), quali sono state le ricadute percepite sull’organizzazione? I risultati ottenuti evidenziano l’importanza delle attività dei boundary spanners organizzativi nella gestione dell’emergenza e di quei fattori che sostenendo la dimensione socio-emozionale ne hanno determinano il vantaggio produttivo dell’organizzazione.

The impact of asymmetric perceptions of buyer-supplier governance mechanisms on relational rents

PurposeBuyers and suppliers often perceive relationship governance mechanisms, such as trust and contractual fairness, in different ways. These differences in perception create an extra layer of complexity that is often ignored in the extant literature. This study adds to the understanding of how perceived asymmetries in trust and contractual fairness, two key relationship governance mechanisms, impact relational rents. This study also analyzes how boundary spanners aid managers to deal with these perceived asymmetries.Design/methodology/approachBased on survey data of 103 buyer–supplier dyads from a single global manufacturer of industrial equipment, the authors test hypotheses of perceived asymmetries in trust and contractual fairness, as well as the moderating effect of boundary spanners, on relational rents.FindingsThis research challenges the belief that asymmetries negatively impact or lead to unstable buyer–supplier relationships. Furthermore, it explains how preferential treatment and length of the relationship could reduce the impact of asymmetric perceptions.Practical implicationsThis study stresses that open communication, which considers different viewpoints, helps to overcome the negative differences in attitude and perception. In addition, the authors found that long-term relationships seem to be far more resilient in dealing with asymmetries and that preferential treatments are best applied in (approximately) symmetric relationships in terms of contractual fairness.Originality/valueWhile studies on buyer–supplier relationships often assume symmetric perceptions of governance mechanisms, asymmetric perceptions are far more prominent in reality. This study aims to improve one’s understanding of the impact of these asymmetries as well as how boundary spanners can affect these perceptions.

Opportunism, bounded rationality and governance choices in exploration alliances: the moderating role of boundary spanners' guanxi

PurposeBy distinguishing opportunism-based and bounded rationality-based transaction costs, the study examines how firms use equity/relational governance and boundary spanners' guanxi to govern their exploration alliances in a transaction cost economizing way.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a survey methodology for data collection, and the sample consists of 150 exploration alliances formed by large Taiwanese information and electronic firms.FindingsFindings of this study show that exploration alliances incur considerable transaction costs and require high-level equity control and relational governance. The positive exploration of alliance-equity ownership relationship will be weakened by boundary spanners' guanxi when guanxi serves to harmonize conflicts and mitigate opportunism-based transaction costs, thereby reducing the need for using costly equity ownership to govern exploration alliances. In contrast, the positive exploration alliance-relational governance relationship will be amplified when guanxi becomes a source of legitimacy in the Chinese guanxi institution. This relation-augmenting effect will drive more relational governance because guanxi and relational governance together allow alliance managers to obtain sufficient legitimacy in the formation of a common dominant frame, thereby mitigating bounded rationality-based transaction costs.Originality/valueBy distinguishing various moderating effects of boundary spanners' guanxi and separating transaction costs into two forms, this study contributes to the existing literature as well as advances our understanding of alliance governance decisions in the Chinese business environment.

Boundary spanner closeness to partner firm as relational governance in turbulent versus stable environments

Purpose This study aims to explore the overall relationship between a boundary spanner and a partner firm, i.e. boundary spanner closeness to partner firm. Drawing on consumer-service provider relationship literature and the tripartite model of affect-behavior-cognition, the authors identify three key dimensions of such closeness, namely, boundary spanners’ relational ties, customer-specific capabilities and accommodative behaviors, and examine their effects on exchange outcomes in turbulent versus stable environments. Design/methodology/approach The paper examines the effects of three dimensions of boundary spanner closeness on various exchange outcomes (i.e. retailers’ cooperation, satisfaction and willingness for investment) using two industries as exemplars, characterized by distinct levels of environmental turbulence – the retailing networks of a major cell phone company and a petroleum company in China. Findings The results indicate that the three dimensions individually and jointly affect exchange outcomes and the interplay of customer-specific capabilities and relational ties affect exchange outcomes differently across industry turbulence. Originality/value The existing literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of the function of boundary spanners, which serve as a key relational interorganizational governance component. By identifying three key dimensions of boundary spanner closeness and examining their effectiveness in promoting exchange outcomes, this study advances the understanding of the role of boundary spanners in interorganizational governance.

Transformational Ability of Energy Network Companies: The Role of Institutional Logics and Boundary Spanners

Energy network companies play a vital role in energy transitions. The transformational ability of these companies influences the process of energy transitions and the effectiveness of policies in this domain. This study shows the need for managers of network companies as well as scholars and policy makers operating in the midst of energy transitions to acknowledge the importance and value of boundary spanners in improving the transformation ability of these companies to play their role in facilitating energy transitions. Evidence comes from an in-depth analysis of an energy network company in the Netherlands. Our findings show that the transformation ability of energy network companies depends on various instances of boundary spanning as these organizations address differing or conflicting intra- and inter-organizational institutional logics when contributing to an energy transition. In the context of energy transitions, inter-organizational boundary spanning generally demands more resources and attention than the spanning of intra-organizational boundaries. Additionally, intra-organizational boundaries affect inter-organizational relationships, particularly in the policy arena. Our findings indicate that to carry out the type of institutional change that an energy transition requires, more attention and resources should be dedicated to intra-organizational boundary spanning, even as the need to connect external stakeholders increases.

Sustainability in the film industry: External and internal dynamics shaping the Wellington film district

<p>Official statistics show that the revenue from film production in Wellington has increased in the last decade. However, unofficial debates identify that the Wellington film industry lacks financial capacity and has only intermittent levels of production. I argue that the absence of sustainability, defined here as long-term endogenous viability, underlies the difficulties faced by the film industry in Wellington. However, cultural industries studies have overlooked the issue of sustainability in the film industry, or dealt with it only indirectly. This study draws on theoretical approaches from the political economy of culture and geographical industrialisation theory, suggesting that integrated relations among the value chain phases, and synergistic interactions among the film industry organisations, are crucial to film industry development. Accordingly, this thesis derives from the hypothesis that such relations are key to sustainable outcomes. The main question that this research addresses is, What interrelations in the film industry enable its sustainability? The thesis uses the empirical example of the film industry in Wellington as an industrial district that sheds light on similar film industrial districts that depend on transnational outsourcing and government funding, yet struggle to achieve a sustainable endogenous industry. Although the district in Wellington has unique characteristics, it cannot be understood without referring to the determinant influence of policies and economic flows that occur at the national and international levels. Therefore, a large part of the thesis is dedicated to examining such external dynamics. I gathered data through 30 qualitative interviews with key practitioners as well as boundary spanners in the film industry. Boundary spanners are people who are responsible for establishing relations with other film-related organisations and the industrial district environment. The research also drew on secondary data from various sources, mainly official documents and statistics, media reports, public information of film industry organisations and previous academic studies. As part of my analysis, I identified localised ‘vertical’ blockages in the value chain, such as the disarticulation of production from distribution and commercialisation of films, and ‘horizontal’ blockages in a vast array of interlinked organisations and policy environments. I have argued that these constraints obstruct synergistic interrelations towards achieving sustainability as they underwrite outcomes in five main areas: financial capacity, ability to maintain labour pools, ability to feed from creative sources, ability to develop productivity and infrastructure, as well as the opportunity to reach audiences. The Wellington example showed structural blockages in all those areas and the thesis suggests general paths to canalise relationships in the industry to create sustainability. My analysis contributes to the international field of cultural industries studies, in which there is very little clarity about how to give an account of sustainability in the film industry. The thesis has identified a gap between the theoretical accounts explaining how the film industries work, and international organisations’ advocacy for sustainable development in the cultural industries. By proposing a definition of sustainability in the film industry as well as suggesting systematic accounts of sustainability as an analytical and normative framework, the thesis contributes by establishing a bridge between the theory and its application to achieve normative (or desirable) sustainable outcomes. In addition, the research findings provide an increased understanding of the industry for both film industry practitioners and film policy advisors. When contrasting the findings with the conditions for a sustainable industry, I have noted that the film industry in Wellington presents several challenging areas. I suggest that policy-makers should pay special attention to them. These are audience development; professionalisation in scriptwriting and original creative content; intermediary expertise (not at the individual but at the organisational level so that knowledge around marketing and copyright management can be accrued and transferred in the long-term); alternative channels of distribution and dissemination (whose contracts guarantee with minimum standards a fair and quick redistribution of the revenue stream for the producer). Likewise, I consider it essential to increase the collaboration of local companies with independent (as opposed to major) international players in order to maintain the balancing power in negotiation without compromising control over revenue.</p>

Sustainability in the film industry: External and internal dynamics shaping the Wellington film district

<p>Official statistics show that the revenue from film production in Wellington has increased in the last decade. However, unofficial debates identify that the Wellington film industry lacks financial capacity and has only intermittent levels of production. I argue that the absence of sustainability, defined here as long-term endogenous viability, underlies the difficulties faced by the film industry in Wellington. However, cultural industries studies have overlooked the issue of sustainability in the film industry, or dealt with it only indirectly. This study draws on theoretical approaches from the political economy of culture and geographical industrialisation theory, suggesting that integrated relations among the value chain phases, and synergistic interactions among the film industry organisations, are crucial to film industry development. Accordingly, this thesis derives from the hypothesis that such relations are key to sustainable outcomes. The main question that this research addresses is, What interrelations in the film industry enable its sustainability? The thesis uses the empirical example of the film industry in Wellington as an industrial district that sheds light on similar film industrial districts that depend on transnational outsourcing and government funding, yet struggle to achieve a sustainable endogenous industry. Although the district in Wellington has unique characteristics, it cannot be understood without referring to the determinant influence of policies and economic flows that occur at the national and international levels. Therefore, a large part of the thesis is dedicated to examining such external dynamics. I gathered data through 30 qualitative interviews with key practitioners as well as boundary spanners in the film industry. Boundary spanners are people who are responsible for establishing relations with other film-related organisations and the industrial district environment. The research also drew on secondary data from various sources, mainly official documents and statistics, media reports, public information of film industry organisations and previous academic studies. As part of my analysis, I identified localised ‘vertical’ blockages in the value chain, such as the disarticulation of production from distribution and commercialisation of films, and ‘horizontal’ blockages in a vast array of interlinked organisations and policy environments. I have argued that these constraints obstruct synergistic interrelations towards achieving sustainability as they underwrite outcomes in five main areas: financial capacity, ability to maintain labour pools, ability to feed from creative sources, ability to develop productivity and infrastructure, as well as the opportunity to reach audiences. The Wellington example showed structural blockages in all those areas and the thesis suggests general paths to canalise relationships in the industry to create sustainability. My analysis contributes to the international field of cultural industries studies, in which there is very little clarity about how to give an account of sustainability in the film industry. The thesis has identified a gap between the theoretical accounts explaining how the film industries work, and international organisations’ advocacy for sustainable development in the cultural industries. By proposing a definition of sustainability in the film industry as well as suggesting systematic accounts of sustainability as an analytical and normative framework, the thesis contributes by establishing a bridge between the theory and its application to achieve normative (or desirable) sustainable outcomes. In addition, the research findings provide an increased understanding of the industry for both film industry practitioners and film policy advisors. When contrasting the findings with the conditions for a sustainable industry, I have noted that the film industry in Wellington presents several challenging areas. I suggest that policy-makers should pay special attention to them. These are audience development; professionalisation in scriptwriting and original creative content; intermediary expertise (not at the individual but at the organisational level so that knowledge around marketing and copyright management can be accrued and transferred in the long-term); alternative channels of distribution and dissemination (whose contracts guarantee with minimum standards a fair and quick redistribution of the revenue stream for the producer). Likewise, I consider it essential to increase the collaboration of local companies with independent (as opposed to major) international players in order to maintain the balancing power in negotiation without compromising control over revenue.</p>