24532: Understanding Organizations: Power and Boundary Spanning Leadership in Public Sector Organizations

The phenomenon of power and boundary spanning leadership in public sector organizations is the topic for the present workshop. The workshop takes its starting point in an interdisciplinary Scandinavian research project between Chris Ernst from the BILL & MELINDA GATES foundation and the department of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at University of Aalborg that deals with the question of how power processes can promote, or hinder, boundary spanning leadership. Boundary spanning leadership is defined as ‘the ability to create direction, alignment and commitment across group boundaries in service of a higher vision and goal’ (Ernst and Chrobot-Mason, 2011, p. 2). The research project stresses the fact that analysis of boundary spanning leadership and power relations is an essential, significant, and critical tool in questioning different forms of management in public sector organizations. We will present a practice perspective (Corradi, Gherardi and Verzelloni 2010) and the aim of the workshop is thus to investigate, elucidate and discuss the collaboration of management across organizational units. This management discussion is done in a framework of inclusiveness and answers the following questions: What characterize the inclusive organization regarding boundary spanning leadership? How does managerial inclusiveness impact employees, organizational behavior etc.? Through an interactive format participants will gain a deeper understanding of both the positive and negative dynamics of such processes, alongside practical examples of how leadership can drive collaboration across organizational units. The working method will be a combination of theoretical presentation, interactive discussions, dialogue and reflection.