The last chapter explored the boundary spanning role in some depth together with the main competencies required to undertake it effectively. This chapter develops and extends this discussion by focusing on a couple of important questions that are prompted by this analysis, and by investigating the problematic nature inherent in the boundary spanning role. The questions relate to, first, the issue of substance and what, if any, specialised areas of knowledge, expertise and experience are required by boundary spanners to complement or underpin the skills and abilities previously discussed; and second, the extent to which personality influences the manner in which boundary spanners discharge their role. In other words, is there a certain type of person who may be particularly suitable for this type of post? Following this discussion, the chapter proceeds to examine the many challenges that accompany this role which are manifested in the form of tensions, paradoxes and ambiguities.

Does the work of boundary spanners require specialised knowledge, expertise and experience?

Professionals normally acquire their legitimacy through the possession of a discrete repository of knowledge and expertise that in turn is codified and protected by professional bodies. Can boundary spanners make a claim to a special area of knowledge, and if so, what is it? One view is that a key area of expertise and knowledge lies in an understanding of the context in which boundary spanners operate – the configuration and distribution of roles, responsibilities, cultures, operating systems and accountabilities of individuals and agencies working in a particular collaborative domain. An appreciation of the multiple motivations underpinning the drive to collaborate is critical as is their interplay and dynamics. Posner (2009, p 238) makes the point that: ‘public programmes work through implementation regimes featuring actors with mixed motives that have incentives to both co-operate and defect from new public policy initiatives’. The challenge for boundary spanners is to appreciate the values and intent of different actors, and to understand how to manufacture the appropriate incentives to mobilise collective action.

This is a picture of complexity and interdependence and the value of boundary spanners lies in their ability to appreciate and analyse the connections, links and interrelationships in this system, as illustrated in the following example (Williams, 2005, p 201).