Question

Boundaries are an important feature of any organization. The nature of these boundaries has undergone considerable change over time. For many organizations today, what is inside or outside the boundaries is less clear and the ease of flow of information across boundaries has greatly increased. Boundaries can exist between individuals, between teams, between organizations, or even between an organization and its social environment (e.g., city, community, etc.).

• Discuss your current organization or a previous organization in terms of boundaries. How did these boundaries affect you as an employee? Reflect on your mental construct of boundaries.
• Explain what roles boundaries play and why these are important to organizations.
• How permeable are your boundaries both personally and for your team?
• Examine what determines how much rigidity and permeability is required by an organization and the teams in an organization.
• Assess the benefits for many organizations to be less rigid and more permeable than previously.

Answer 1

Boundaries plays a crucial role in the smooth working of any organization. Recently I worked in an organization where I was a sales manager. My mental construct of boundaries is limited with the approach of information. A perimeter was there between outsiders and insiders.

Boundaries and limitations play an important role as every private information not meant for outsiders can act dangerously. And create a responsibility line for all members. The smooth functioning of the operation of an organization is essential, which can happen with boundaries.

Preamble of the boundaries can state the need and clear limitations for the working of the organization. By this flow of information, another functioning of the organization is transparent.

Less rigidity and more porous boundaries than previously will make an unambiguous working in an organization. Organizations are benefited from these boundaries in many ways like answerable capabilities, security information, etc.