Institutional Ecology, “Translations” and Boundary Objects¶
Star, S. L., & Griesemer, J. R. (1989). Institutional Ecology, “Translations” and Boundary Objects: Amateurs and Professionals in Berkeley’s Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, 1907–39. Social Studies of Science, 19(3), 387-420.
Cited by¶
8 citations across 8 artifacts.
Each citation links to the sentence it supports in the citing article.
Primes¶
- Translation and Conceptual Bridging
- An interface (in software, in organizational structure, or in conceptual design) is a boundary layer that mediates interaction between two systems without necessarily translating meaning between them, a distinction Star and Griesemer (1989) elaborate in their analysis of boundary objects that coordinate work without forcing semantic alignment.
This sourceIntroduces boundary objects—artifacts that coordinate work across communities without requiring shared meaning—clarifying interface as distinct from full translation.
- An interface (in software, in organizational structure, or in conceptual design) is a boundary layer that mediates interaction between two systems without necessarily translating meaning between them, a distinction Star and Griesemer (1989) elaborate in their analysis of boundary objects that coordinate work without forcing semantic alignment.
Mechanisms¶
- Boundary-Object Translation
- This is the mechanism named by Star and Griesemer's boundary object — plastic enough to adapt locally
This sourceDefines boundary objects as adaptable to local viewpoints while remaining robust enough to maintain a common identity across social worlds.
- This is the mechanism named by Star and Griesemer's boundary object — plastic enough to adapt locally
- Category Reframing Workshop
- A well-designed category here behaves like a boundary object: legible and usable across the different communities that must share it, robust enough to hold their differing needs without forcing everyone into one reading.
This sourceDefines boundary objects as adaptable to different communities’ local needs while retaining a robust common identity.
- A well-designed category here behaves like a boundary object: legible and usable across the different communities that must share it, robust enough to hold their differing needs without forcing everyone into one reading.
- Cross-Functional Workflow Mapping
- The shared object at each crossing works as a boundary object
This sourceDefines boundary objects as locally adaptable while robust enough to preserve a common identity across social worlds.
- The shared object at each crossing works as a boundary object
- Object Origin Story Card
- And it translates across groups
This sourceDefines boundary objects as shared across intersecting social worlds while remaining adaptable to each community’s local needs and maintaining a common identity.
- And it translates across groups
- Saddle Neighborhood Map
- Its strength is that it is a boundary object
This sourceShows how boundary objects enable coordination across heterogeneous social worlds.
- Its strength is that it is a boundary object
- Teleconnection System Map
- Its strength is that it is a boundary object
This sourceDefines boundary objects as robust enough to retain a common identity while remaining plastic enough to be adapted to the viewpoints and needs of different participating worlds.
- Its strength is that it is a boundary object
- Terminology Review Workshop
- A shared term here behaves as a boundary object: used jointly across communities yet read somewhat differently by each, robust enough to coordinate work while flexible enough to fit local meanings.
This sourceDefines boundary objects as robust enough to coordinate communities while remaining flexible enough for different local interpretations.
- A shared term here behaves as a boundary object: used jointly across communities yet read somewhat differently by each, robust enough to coordinate work while flexible enough to fit local meanings.
Verification¶
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Does it back the claim? Not recorded. Neither this nor any other of the 8 citations of this work carries a recorded support check.
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