| dc.description.abstract | During the covid-19 pandemic businesses have been forced to go completely virtual. This has
ultimately changed the boundary landscape as we know it, and companies have had to swiftly
respond to this unforeseen transformation. For small businesses this has meant a significant
change as they are used to the perks of operating in an environment characterized by
informality, fast communication, and togetherness. This study applies a boundary work
perspective on the phenomenon, which allows us to understand how a firm with less visible
boundaries has been affected by a shift to remote work. Earlier studies on boundary work have
primarily been ascribed to human agency. This paper accounts for other important parameters
such as that of time, space, and materiality. It also describes several boundaries at a time and
the linkages between different boundaries, which much of previous research lacks. A case study
on a small firm is conducted, where primary data is collected from retrospective interviews.
The conclusions are threefold, firstly we conclude that boundaries become more distinct and
visible during remote work. This is because the characteristics of the small firm depend on
members existing in the same space and time, where communication is allowed to flow easily.
Secondly, we see that the boundaries experienced in the firm are not due to specific actors, but
rather to the virtual work itself. Thirdly, we determine that boundary work has both intended
and unintended consequences and can change over time and transform into something else.
Lastly, we provide managerial implications and future research for boundary work, but also
interesting insights on the re-configuration of togetherness in a virtual setting. | en |
