From Boundary Shaker to Boundary Consolidator by Ways of Symbolic Discourses in a Post-Merger Integration Context

This study analyzes the interactions among individuals engaged in an information system project aimed to support an organization created by the merger of previously independent entities. We draw on a practice perspective to analyze the spanning practices of boundary shakers – mandated change agents – as they attempt to engage with others in crossboundary collaborative initiatives that aim at changes as part of the postmerger integration process. Our analysis suggests that some of the premerger practices were resilient at the end of the project. We suggest that one of the boundary shakers’ practices of boundary consolidation through discourses of authoritative knowledge and ‘group-making’ facilitated the construction of symbolic boundaries between the merging parties, thus contributing to the resilience of pre-merger practices. From Boundary Shaker to Boundary Consolidator Thirty Seventh International Conference on Information Systems, Dublin 2016 1 From Boundary Shaker to Boundary Consolidator by Ways of Symbolic Discourses in a Post-Merger Integration Context Completed Research Paper Dragos Vieru École des sciences de l’administration TELUQ University 5800, rue Saint-Denis Montréal, H2S 3L5 [email protected] Suzanne Rivard HEC Montréal 3000 Chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine Montréal, H3T 2A7 [email protected] Simon Bourdeau École des sciences de la gestion UQAM 315, rue Sainte-Catherine Est Montréal, H2X 3X2 [email protected]