Boundaries in times of policymaking: the enactment of boundary objects

Abstract

Technological advancements have been a driving force for changing the boundaries of work in organizations. The digital environments are becoming more regulated, putting pressure on traditional roles and ways of organizing to keep up with technological change. Regulating the modern digital environments is a long and ongoing process of preparation and negotiations which opens a window of opportunity to study the identifications and crossings of boundaries. Using the case of a coming policy package from the European Commission, this study follows how organizations identify and cross boundaries to create a desirable future fit in relation to the regulation. We draw on qualitative data collected from organizations with different interests and objectives affected by the policy package. Our study reveal that boundary objects are formed in a processual way as they are introduced to different actors at different times. We show that this process is the result of how boundary spanners use temporal work to shape the enactment of boundary objects. We contribute to existing research by showing the need for a longitudinal and processual approach to boundary objects. By looking at boundaries as performative and fluid, we show that boundary objects are an iterative consequence of social interaction.