A case study of interorganizational collaboration, boundary spanning, and professions in the Covid-19 pandemic

In 2020, many government agencies and organizations in the United States responded to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Methods varied from county to state to region. This dissertation project investigates one area’s response to Covid-19, which involved inter-agency and interorganizational collaboration. I specifically look at the role of boundary spanning and professions in the interorganizational collaboration in this area, with the goal of contributing to boundary spanning theory and interorganizational collaboration theory. I investigated the Covid-19 response through a qualitative case study of a complex multi-organizational collaboration. Findings showed that boundary spanning involved structure and actions. Interweaving boundary spanners from multiple organizations within the response structure forced integration of organizations on a micro level and increased cross-organizational and cross-professional communication. Findings furthermore challenged past literature on boundary spanning affiliation-based definitions, and on the tertius gaudens boundary spanning strategy. Findings regarding professions suggested that professions influenced the collaboration and boundary spanning processes. Overall, findings suggested the need to revisit boundary spanning definitions, demonstrated a case where the tertius gaudens strategy was used to benefit, and highlighted the moderating role of professions in collaboration involving boundary spanners. Future research could further investigate how the profession of a boundary spanner, and a professional’s specialized knowledge, may impact boundary spanning. Future directions could also further investigate RAE as a tool for integrating professions and expertise in emergency response events.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Kimnach, Rachel Lee

Contributors dc:contributor

• Poole, Marshall S
• Lammers, John C
• Kraatz, Mathew
• Barley, William C

• Boundary Spanners
• Conveners
• Brokers
• Collaboration Theory
• Collaboration Strategy
• Interorganizational (inter-organizational) Collaboration
• Intergroup (inter-group) Collaboration
• Professional Collaboration
• Covid-19 (covid 19)
• Coronavirus
• Pandemic Response
• Emergency Response
• Emergency Management
• Emergency Operations Center (eoc)
• National Incident Management System (nims)
• Incident Command System (ics)
• Unified Command
• Professions Theory
• Tertius Gaudens
• Network

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Rachel Kimnach

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117544

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F117544