University of Hamburg, Germany

Developing Tools for Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: Seven Principles to Design Boundary Objects for Systemic Change

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ABSTRACT

Systemic change towards sustainability goals requires cross-sectoral collaboration (CSC). CSC can be supported by the means of management tools that act as a shared point of reference. In this action design research study of two cross-sectoral initiatives, we demonstrate how tool development for CSC can benefit from a set of design principles. Our study is conceptually grounded in the literature on boundary objects and boundary work.

Our findings show that having good content is not enough in tool development. This content needs to be translated into formats that work for the respective audiences according to their reflexivity modes and professional context. Internal change agents who translate between the cross-sectoral initiative and their own organisations often assume this translation role. 

We build on these findings to propose a framework: the Seven Principles for Transformative Collaboration Tools (7P-TraCT). 7P-TraCT allows tool designers, such as intermediaries, partnership brokers, consultants, and researchers, to assess the effectiveness of their tools and iterate towards better outcomes. We contribute to the literature on impact scholarship, cross-sectoral collaborations, and boundary work.

BIOGRAPHY

Anna Margolis is interested in how organisations and society can innovate towards more desirable, sustainable, and circular futures. She builds on theories from systems thinking, innovation, collaboration, transitions research, and sociology. She applies these theories to design science-based tools that support practitioners in innovating towards more meaningful outcomes. Anna Margolis is pursuing her PhD at Hamburg Universität at the Chair of Circular Economy & Systems Innovation. She is also a lecturer in design thinking and impact evaluation at the IST University of Applied Science. Before, Anna Margolis worked as a change leader at Henkel, designing, implementing, and facilitating digitalisation, strategy, and brand programmes. She has also founded a social start-up to advance international diversity and careers in Germany. Anna Margolis holds an MBA from the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. She is a regular visitor to programmes on systems design, for example, at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID).