1. Boundary Spanning I can hardly consider specialization in itself evil. On the other hand, I am thoroughly convinced that much evil of our times is related to specialization and that we desperately need to develop an attitude of suspicious caution toward it. I think we need to treat specialization with the same degree of distrust and safeguards that we bring to nuclear reactors. - M. Scott Peck

2. 1. The inherent nature of boundaries • Definition – separation • Functional • Physical • Budgetary • Authoritatively

3. 2. Problems with Boundaries • Investment Losses • Customer Service Failures • Unmotivated Employees • Overlapping Responsibilities • Poor performance

4. 3. Contributing Factors • Language • Culture • Location • Category dissimilarity • Addition/multiplication problem

5. 4. Resolution Principles • Must be mutual • Requires continual effort • Create sensitivity not edicts • Seek structural changes • Build company context (values)

6. 5. What to do? • Select and train right people (skills) • Develop relationships • Maintain relationships • Seek information • Persuade others • Manage uncertainty • Resolve conflict • Use error correction processes • Quizzes • Track org. processes (staple yourself to an order)

7. What to do? (cont.) • Encourage activities that promote shared experiences/common goals • Company-wide seminars • Brainstorming • Links with role counterparts • Elevate voices of boundary spanners • Show & Tell • Co-author articles

8. What to do? (cont.) • Change the org structure • Job descriptions • Job switching & job shadowing • Cross-functional teams • Physical environment • Parallel development cycles

9. 8. Benefits of Boundary Spanning • Avoid misunderstandings • Avoid antagonisms • More creativity/innovation • Learning organization • Increase employee commitment