Crossing boundaries and conscripting participation: Representing and integrating knowledge in a paper machinery project

In large, complex knowledge management tasks, representing and integrating knowledge present major challenges. To understand these, we studied two processes: perspective taking across communities of knowing with boundary objects and perspective making within a community by the use of conscription devices. A mutually modifiable object, with sufficient complexity and manageability, appeared to be of crucial importance within a community. Between communities, the role of representations and negotiation over their meaning were emphasised. Implications for computer support point towards combining free form and structure, open and controlled access and modifiability, and parallel synchronised and unregulated communication.