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Justification and Interlaced Knowledge at ATLAS, CERN

Author

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  • Philipp Tuertscher

    (Department of Information, Logistics, and Innovation, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, WU Vienna, 1020 Vienna, Austria)

  • Raghu Garud

    (Department of Management and Organization, Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802)

  • Arun Kumaraswamy

    (Department of Management, College of Business and Public Affairs, West Chester University of Pennsylania, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383; and Department of Strategic Management, Fox School of Business, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122)

Abstract

We report on a longitudinal study of the emergence of the ATLAS detector, a complex technological system developed at CERN, Geneva. Our data show that the coordination of initial architectural choices was driven by cycles of contestation and justification that resulted in the creation of what we term interlaced knowledge —pockets of shared knowledge interwoven within and across subsystem communities at ATLAS. We also found that these justifications were possible because of the presence of a boundary infrastructure that served as a common substrate of knowledge for all ATLAS participants. Together, the boundary infrastructure and interlaced knowledge enabled participants to make co-oriented technological choices, address latent interdependencies, and minimize the incidence and severity of glitches when integrating the various subsystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Philipp Tuertscher & Raghu Garud & Arun Kumaraswamy, 2014. "Justification and Interlaced Knowledge at ATLAS, CERN," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(6), pages 1579-1608, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:25:y:2014:i:6:p:1579-1608
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2013.0894
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