Examining Boundary Objects in Inter-Organizational Information Sharing (IIS) Success

Abstract

Boundary Objects (BO) have been avidly discussed in research, particularly in some fields such as organization theory. Nonetheless, insufficient attention has been given to its relevance to information sharing and integration in inter-organizational systems in the public sector. We use structural equation modeling (SEM) to scrutinize data from a National Survey conducted in the United States in 2008 and look for evidence of the mediating role of boundary objects in contexts of complex organizational interactions. This preliminary study reveals insights about the relativistic nature BOs as mediating structures and draws conclusions about its actual weight with respect to successful collaboration in inter-organizational information exchanges across public organizations. We conclude with a research agenda for the future.