Boundary theory: A field study of *groups in organizations

This dissertation reports a one-year field study that examined the significance of boundaries for groups in organizations. Groups, like all living systems, are inherently open to their environment. Information, matter and members cross the boundaries that define the group and differentiate it from the larger organizational environment in which it exists. In addition to distinguishing groups from their environment, boundaries also have internal functions, maintaining the relatedness, organization and interdependencies among group members. Boundary theory proposes that permeability---the ease with which boundaries may be crossed---mediates the manner in which the external and internal worlds of the group influence one another. This research, which compared the boundary permeability of nine healthcare agencies co-located in an overarching partnership, provided the first systematic qualitative and quantitative evaluation of this theory. Based on multiple methods of data collection---consisting of unstructured and structured interview and observation, archival material analysis and questionnaire---the study supported the validity of the permeability construct. The study demonstrated the existence of convergent reliability across multiple measures of the permeability construct and significant relationships between the construct and three hypothesized dependent variables: group coherence, authority relations and group dynamics. Environmental conditions were found to moderate the association between permeability and the dependent variables. The investigator discusses the implications of these findings for understanding groups, and explores the application of the theory to organizational consultation.