How do you connect different worlds, break down barriers, and foster collaboration where obstacles seem to dominate? During an inspiring Knowledge session led by Dr. Gertjan de Groot, we explored the world of 'Boundary Spanners' — the bridge-builders who tackle societal challenges with creative solutions. In an era where collaboration is essential, the role of the boundary spanner is more important than ever. Luckily the room was full of them.
What is a Boundary Spanner?
A Boundary Spanner is a professional skilled in bridging domain boundaries within complex urban challenges. Their role involves making collaboration between diverse stakeholders — with different interests and goals — both productive and forward-moving. This is precisely the type of work we engage in at Amsterdam InChange.
During the session, participants were asked to reflect on the types of boundaries they encounter in their professional practices. The responses ranged from financial constraints and cultural norms to conflicting interests and the limits of what people are accustomed to.
Three Dimensions of Boundaries
According to Dr. Gertjan de Groot, every boundary encountered in collaborations has three key dimensions:
- Social dimension – Relationships between people: who knows whom? How does "us" relate to "them"?
- Cognitive dimension – Differences in knowledge, ideas, interpretations, and beliefs.
- Material dimension – Aspects like ownership, authority, resources such as money, and capacity.
Bridging these boundaries requires different actions for each dimension. An interesting example discussed during the session involved a collaboration within the municipality, where three groups were working together. As one group grew closer, the gap between them and the other groups widened. This illustrates how overcoming boundaries can sometimes create new ones.
Dealing with Boundaries
Participants were also asked the question: "How do you deal with the boundaries you encounter in your professional practice?" Some of the responses included:
- Actively listening and staying alert to keep everyone involved.
- Understanding the other party’s perspective by asking questions and making issues discussable.
- Respecting differing opinions and recognizing when a boundary is reached.
The discussion led to the insight that boundaries are not inherently problematic, but they can become an issue if the other party is not included in the process. A boundary protects something, and it's essential to understand what exactly it is protecting.
Mechanisms to Bridge Boundaries
So how do you cross these boundaries and bring people closer together? Dr. Gertjan de Groot outlined four mechanisms to effectively bridge boundaries:
- Intermediating between boundaries (connecting, translating, acquiring).
- Developing joint practices.
- Creating boundary objects.
- Establishing a shared language and mindset.
The key takeaway here: don't rely on just one mechanism. Experiment with multiple ways of collaborating.
Research Conclusions
The session concluded with several insights from the research on boundary spanners:
- Bridging boundaries often also means creating new ones.
- Intermediation is essential (connecting, translating, and acquiring).
- Without boundary-spanning practices, collaboration simply won’t work.
- Boundary objects have a limited lifespan.
- Deviate from traditional ways of working.
- Experiment with all four mechanisms; don’t rely on just one.
- Boundary spanners must be consciously competent; although there's a wealth of individual knowledge, there's still too little shared understanding.
Dr. Gertjan de Groot is also working on turning this into a game. They are currently looking for partners to collaborate on its development and implementation. The required investment is €5,000 per partner.
Do you want to learn more about Boundary Spanners or get in contact with Dr. Gertjan de Groot about the game? Leave a comment below and we’ll connect you with him!
