Journal article
From Boundary Spanning to Intergroup Knowledge Integration: The Role of Boundary Spanners' Metaknowledge and Proactivity
Journal of management studies, v 59(7), pp 1723-1755
23 Feb 2022
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Intergroup knowledge integration, that is the acquisition, processing, and utilization of knowledge across group boundaries, is a critical source of competitive advantage in modern organizations. Prior research has highlighted the important role of boundary spanning knowledge exchange for intergroup knowledge integration, neglecting, however, the question of what makes individual boundary spanners more effective in fostering intergroup knowledge integration. Integrating boundary spanning literature with theories of group information processing, we hypothesize that the effect of individual boundary spanning ties on intergroup knowledge integration depends on the boundary spanners' levels of metaknowledge, i.e., knowledge of who knows what in their respective groups, and proactivity. We find general support for our predictions in a study of 457 engineering consultants nested in 22 interdependent business units within an organization. Additional criterion analyses confirm the material importance of intergroup knowledge integration for group performance. Our findings have implications for literatures on intergroup effectiveness, team cognition, and proactivity.
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Details
- Title
- From Boundary Spanning to Intergroup Knowledge Integration: The Role of Boundary Spanners' Metaknowledge and Proactivity
- Creators
- Julija N. Mell - Erasmus University RotterdamDaan van Knippenberg - Drexel UniversityWendy P. van Ginkel - Drexel UniversityPursey P. M. A. R. Heugens - Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Publication Details
- Journal of management studies, v 59(7), pp 1723-1755
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 33
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Management
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000759425300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85125067198
- Other Identifier
- 991019167530704721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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Source: SDGs in the Output
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Business
- Management