This reflects how boundaries are created and bridged among communities of practice by boundary objects. Star and Griesemer identify four types of boundary object:
- Repositories of modular, indexed collections of objects that people from different worlds can draw on without direct negotiation with each other;
- ideal types as commonly understood abstractions;
- coincident boundaries as concepts that have common scope for participating communities, but that have different internal contents in each; and
- standardized forms that capture data from various viewpoints of discipline and practice.
An example of boundary objects are method-based work products, which span specialized practices that work together to produce software.
Elements:
- distinguishable social entity
- trading zones
- standardized methods
- representations that link theory and practice
- objects that define boundaries
- power positions
- boundary objects (repositories, abstractions, shared scope, standardized forms)
