Boundary buffering: limiting interference and information leakage in design teams

Wu, Xiaosong (Jason)1; Huang, Wei (Wayne)1,2; Jiang, James3; Klein, Gary4; Liu, Shan1

2020-02-24

10.1108/IJOPM-03-2019-0180

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT   影响因子和分区

0144-3577

1758-6593

Purpose Two challenges faced by automotive component design projects within contracted design agencies are (1) specification changes requested by the manufacturers and (2) product information or core technology knowledge leakage to external actors. We examine the effects of targeted boundary activities that address these challenges under the contingencies of environmental uncertainty and project complexity. Design/methodology/approach Based on Boundary management theory, a bidirectional model of boundary buffering was conceptualized in the context of design agency teams developing automotive components. A survey is derived from the proposed model. Regression analysis is performed using empirical data from 234 auto component design projects in Chinese design agencies. Findings Boundary buffering activities that strengthen outside-in boundaries and inside-out boundaries directly improve the final design quality. Further, the magnitude of effect for outside-in buffering on design quality is enhanced under environmental uncertainty, while the impact of inside-out buffering on design quality is enhanced under project complexity.

Automotive industry New product design Design agents Boundary buffering Environmental uncertainty Project complexity

SSCI

英语

其他

NSFC[71731009] ; NSFC[2018WZDXM020] ; NSFC[71732006]

Business & Economics

Management

WOS:000515192100001

EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD

ECONOMICS BUSINESS

Web of Science

1.Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Management, Xian, Peoples R China
2.South Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Business, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
3.Natl Taiwan Univ, Coll Management, Taipei, Taiwan
4.Univ Colorado, Coll Business & Adm, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 USA

Wu, Xiaosong ,Huang, Wei ,Jiang, James,et al. Boundary buffering: limiting interference and information leakage in design teams[J]. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT,2020,40(3):293-313.

Wu, Xiaosong ,Huang, Wei ,Jiang, James,Klein, Gary,&Liu, Shan.(2020).Boundary buffering: limiting interference and information leakage in design teams.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT,40(3),293-313.

Wu, Xiaosong ,et al."Boundary buffering: limiting interference and information leakage in design teams".INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 40.3(2020):293-313.