Boundary objects and organizational knowledge: A discursive perspective

It is posited that boundary objects, as inscribed artefacts, can be thought of as forms of text. In this paper a discourse-analytic framework is employed to explore the processes of sharing knowledge across boundaries. Three discursive approaches are used to re-analyze existing contributions to the boundary objects literature. First, ‘intertextual analysis’ (Allen, 2000) is applied to Brown’s (2004) work on public inquiry reports. Second, ‘recontextualization’ (Bernstein, 1996) is used to reconsider Sapsed and Salter’s (2004) work on project management tools. Finally, Gantt charts (Yakura, 2002) are re-examined using Iedema’s (1999) concept of ‘formalization’. The power implications of a discursively nuanced account of boundary objects are discussed and the benefits resulting for a ‘boundary objects as text’ perspective are also presented.