Organizational Silos: A Scoping Review Informed by a Behavioral Perspective on Systems and Networks

Fabio Bento, Marco Tagliabue and Flora Lorenzo
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Fabio Bento: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Marco Tagliabue: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Flora Lorenzo: Department of Basic Psychological Processes, Psychology Institute, University of Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, Brazil

Societies, 2020, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: In recent years, several organizations have implemented interventions aimed at integrating work processes and bridging network clusters. These are often permeated by different assumptions regarding clusters in organizational settings. There are concerns about the formation of silos and structural barriers to communication across the formal and informal network structures. Conversely, network clusters are regarded as spaces of local social reinforcement from which innovation ideas may emerge. Although terminologically and functionally different, they share some common features insofar as organizational behavior is concerned and the production of artifacts that fulfill organizational goals. The present scoping review presents an analysis of the literature on organizational silos while investigating attempts to bridge network clusters. Based on the search results, 40 studies were included in the analysis of the findings; of these, 20 were empirical studies and were included in a further quantitative analysis of methods and findings. We identified patterns of definitions of silos and variation in terms of aims, variables, and methods used to evaluate interventions among the heterogeneous studies. Special attention was dedicated to the role of consequences of siloed organizational behavior. We conclude that silos comprise barriers to achieving organizational goals insofar as they pose a threat to internal cooperation.

Keywords: network analysis; clusters; organizations; cooperation; communication; behavior; consequences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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