Overcoming Bounded Scalability: Achieving Interoperability Through Behavioral Boundary Objects

Abstract

Behavioral design’s preference for bespoke, contextualized solutions to behavioral challenges allows it to solve targeted problems with precision, but also makes it difficult to systematically capture and apply lessons from successful interventions. This state of “bounded scalability” is traditionally framed as a generalizability challenge to scaling solutions; however, it may be better characterized as an interoperability challenge, which requires new methodology to democratize who gets to participate, and supports learning in addition to problem solving. Deploying boundary objects—artifacts and concepts that can effectively translate content across disciplinary contexts—as a means to achieve interoperability can lower the bar to sharing and applying effective intervention outcomes, while also raising the floor for less formally trained practitioners. In particular, the boundary objects known as pattern languages that support both analytic and synthetic activitiesmay help interdisciplinary collaborators and non-professionals more effectively participate in behavioral problem solving.

Keywords: Behavioral design, Scalability, Boundary object, Interoperability

Citation: Schmidt, R. & K. Stenger (2021). Overcoming Bounded Scalability: Achieving Interoperability Through Behavioral Boundary Objects, in Markopoulos E., Goonetilleke R.S., Ho A.G., Luximon Y. (eds) Advances in Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Communication of Design. AHFE 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 276. Springer, Cham. 27-29 July 2021. Held online. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80094-9_1