Boundary spanners in action
Boundary spanners are individuals who have the potential to identify collaborative synergies and proactively determine ways to utilise the opportunity. This research focuses on boundary spanning in the context of infrastructure projects undertaken by public managers in the Netherlands. It identifies the added value created by boundary spanners in integrated infrastructural projects in creating sustainable infrastructure.
This supports a shift from siloed efforts to a more integrated, system-oriented approach, better suited to addressing broader societal challenges. This research investigates the activities, roles, and enabling conditions that make boundary spanners effective, thereby contributing to the project performance of public infrastructure projects. The understanding gained from this study can help demonstrate the importance of the activities undertaken by the boundary spanners in institutions, instigate policy changes based on data-driven recommendations and tap into their potential for future projects.
The findings indicate that each phase of the project requires a varying level of involvement of stakeholders and different boundary spanning activities to maintain the synergetic momentum between the public and private partners. By bridging divides between public and private partners, boundary spanners unlock the potential of infrastructure projects and deliver enduring value.