Grenzobjekt

Grenzobjekt is a concept in sociology and science and technology studies that describes objects, artifacts, or practices capable of spanning different social worlds. They function as points of reference that allow diverse groups to coordinate work without fully sharing each other's meanings.

The term is the German rendering of boundary object and traces back to the work of Susan Leigh Star and James Griesemer (1989) in the study of how different communities collaborate in shared environments. The idea emphasizes that artifacts can be simultaneously stable and adaptable across domains.

Core characteristics include interpretive flexibility, meaning that different groups can read the object in distinct ways; a stable core that preserves identity across sites; and a capacity for translation and adaptation that supports coordination without homogenizing practice.

Common examples include maps and diagrams, laboratory notebooks, data standards, prototypes, patient charts in healthcare, and user stories or mockups in software development. These artifacts can be used across domains while accommodating local needs.

Applications and debates: the concept is used to analyze collaborative projects, cross-disciplinary work, and information systems; critiques note that boundary objects can conceal power relations or shift emphasis away from political questions, and that digital transformations may alter their interpretive flexibility.

Related topics include boundary object, boundary-work, and actor-network theory.