Design process outputs as boundary objects in agricultural innovation projects; functions and limitations

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate the functions of designprocessoutputs (such as design briefs, scale models, visualizations, animations) as boundaryobjects in the implementation of novel agricultural production system concepts. The case study analysis of the innovationprocess that led to the establishment of the Rondeel poultry husbandry system reveals that the interpretative flexibility of designprocessoutputs as boundaryobjects helps in creating mutual understanding among diverse actors involved in the implementation of a novel agricultural production system concept, and in mobilizing support for it. In some cases, boundaryobjects allow for interpretative flexibility but remain stable in shape; sometimes, however, the boundaryobjects themselves change as a result of the redesign process they induce. Furthermore, implementers of novel systems may prefer to maintain a rigid interpretation of the boundaryobject, using such interpretative rigidity of the boundaryobject as both an inclusion and exclusion mechanism for actors and options in the innovationprocess. The results confirm that a designprocessoutput such as a scale model can be purposefully created to serve as a boundaryobject and support novel agriculturalsystem concept implementation. However, the effectiveness of a boundaryobject cannot be predicted and fully planned ex-ante.