英文摘要 |
This study investigates how the continual search for boundaries can enact coordination for the purpose of troubleshooting. The “searching model” developed in this study was based on long-term field observations of a semiconductor fabrication case, in-depth interviews, informal communication, and data collection and analysis. The practice theory is used to explore how knowledge workers with different professional backgrounds engage in collaboration and learning in a work context characterized by innovation, flexibility, real-time relationships, and mutual adjustment. This study discovered that three types of work practice underlie the searching model: (1) Profiling practice depending on the professional knowledge of the department to which the engineers belong; (2) probing practice through inspection of abnormalities and experimentation; and (3) reassembling practice re-assorting professional knowledge to discover solutions to problems. These three kinds of work practice enact boundary-spanning coordination and ongoing situated learning. Finally, this paper further explains how the searching model is used in performing boundary-spanning collaboration, and how engineers use boundary sensing, boundary taking and boundary protecting to reorganize different types of professional knowledge, and use integrated knowledge to solve problems. Theoretical and practical implications concerning the enacting of collaboration by searching model are proposed. |