Work 4.0 and the Need for Boundary-Spanning

The evolution of a digital world driven by and generating substantial volumes of data is also changing the way people work and associated specializations, characterized as ‘Work 4.0’ in Europe. Smart devices and the use of data analytics is getting work done more effectively but new skills are needed to develop and use these tools. Agility is a requisite capability. Different communities of practice need to work together, possibly with new kinds of users, introducing a need for enhanced boundary-spanning skills and tools. Boundary-spanning activities take place at multiple organizational levels. Teams use boundary object tools as alignment mechanisms, but also create boundary objects (e.g. prototypes) to test alignment. Case observations from agile IS projects associated with large and small firms highlight the influence of context, a need for the use of multiple complementary boundary objects and for learning to use them effectively