To read this content please select one of the options below:

Boundary resource interactions in solution networks

Ruiqi Wei (Department of Marketing, Emlyon Business School, Écully, France)
Roisin Vize (School of Marketing, College of Business, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland)
Susi Geiger (Department of Marketing, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland)

European Journal of Marketing

ISSN: 0309-0566

Article publication date: 17 January 2022

Issue publication date: 2 February 2022

623

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the interactions between two different and potentially complementary boundary resources in coordinating solution networks in a digital platform context: boundary spanners (those individuals who span interorganizational boundaries) and boundary interfaces (the devices that help coordinate interfirm relationships, e.g. electronic data interchanges, algorithms or chatbots).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a multiple case study of three firms using digital platforms to coordinate solution networks in the information communication technology and lighting facility industries. Data were collected from 30 semi-structured interviews, which are complemented by secondary data.

Findings

As task complexity increases, smarter digital interfaces are adopted. When the intelligence level of interfaces is low or moderate, they are only used as tools by boundary spanners or to support boundary spanners’ functions. When the intelligence level of interfaces is high or very high, boundary spanners design the interfaces and let them perform tasks autonomously. They are also sometimes employed to complement interfaces’ technological limitations and customers’ limited user ability.

Research limitations/implications

The industry contexts of the cases may influence the results. Qualitative case data has limited generalizability.

Practical implications

This study offers a practical tool for solution providers to effectively deploy boundary employees and digital technologies to offer diverse customized solutions simultaneously.

Originality

This study contributes to the solution business literature by putting forward a framework of boundary resource interactions in coordinating solution networks in a digital platform context. It contributes to the boundary spanning literature by revealing the shifting functions of boundary spanners and boundary interfaces.

Keywords

Citation

Wei, R., Vize, R. and Geiger, S. (2022), "Boundary resource interactions in solution networks", European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 56 No. 2, pp. 532-561. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-07-2020-0522

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles