boundariesboth

Boundariesboth is a coined term used in interdisciplinary discussions to describe a dual-boundary framework that treats internal and external boundaries as interdependent rather than separate. The concept frames boundaries as two levels that constrain and enable a system’s behavior, decision-making, or design, emphasizing their interaction rather than their isolation.

Internal boundaries refer to cognitive, cultural, organizational, and normative limits within a system, such as knowledge boundaries, role definitions, or organizational culture. External boundaries refer to environmental, legal, social, and technical limits imposed by other systems, communities, or ecosystems. Boundariesboth posits that effective governance, design, and analysis require addressing both types simultaneously and mapping how adjustments to one boundary propagate to the other.

Methods commonly associated with boundariesboth include dual-boundary mapping to identify where internal and external constraints intersect; boundary negotiation workshops that bring diverse stakeholders into alignment; cross-boundary scenario analysis to test resilience under competing demands; and dual-norm metrics that measure compatibility across both boundary domains.

Applications span areas such as privacy-preserving system design, where user autonomy and regulatory compliance must be balanced; organizational governance and policy development; urban and infrastructure planning; and cross-border or cross-sector collaboration. In research, the framework serves as a heuristic for examining how internal capabilities interact with external mandates.

History and reception: the term boundariesboth appears in a small body of scholarly and practitioner writings since the early 2020s and lacks a standardized definition. Critics caution that the concept can be vague without clear operationalization, while supporters view it as a practical lens for tackling complex, cross-boundary problems. See also: boundary object, boundary management, dual boundary theory.