Title: Leadership, boundary spanners and team learning in crisis management

Authors: Erik Hedlund; Camilla Lönngren

Addresses: Department of Leadership and Command & Control, Swedish Defence University, Drottning Kristinas väg 37, Box 27805, 11593, Stockholm ' Center for Societal Security, Swedish Defence University, Drottning Kristinas väg 37, Box 27805, 11593, Stockholm

Abstract: In early 2020, decision makers in Stockholm were concerned that intensive care units (ICUs) would fill up because of the massive spread of the coronavirus. Therefore, they decided that a group of doctors, a construction company and the Swedish Armed Forces would build a temporary hospital inside an exhibition hall. Using field study observations and in-depth interviews, this study investigates the role of boundary spanners and leadership in crisis management and team learning. Two types of boundary spanners were prevalent: the 'Leader' and the 'Expert', and together they are crucial for successful crisis management, and for team learning. This study contributes to filling a gap in research regarding the role of boundary spanners in team learning within and across teams. Results show that research into boundary spanners and team learning can use the variables in Edmondson's team learning model for thematic data analysis, and to describe and understand how boundary spanners can contribute to learning within and across teams, when collaborating in the mutual management of crises.

Keywords: boundary spanners; Edmondson's team learning model; crisis management; Covid-19; collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2022.125164

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2022 Vol.17 No.3/4, pp.323 - 341

Received: 30 Apr 2021
Accepted: 02 Feb 2022

Published online: 31 Aug 2022 *

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