Curriculum Vitae dr. ir. F. Kees Boersma

Knowledge, Work and Organizational Change
My research addresses the problem of how, why, by whom and with what consequences (new)
technology and knowledge is developed within and for organizations. The question then is how the
technology and knowledge does affect the social identities of individuals, the work(space) and cultures
of organizations. My research is implemented in two different projects. Currently the focus is on
Project 1:
Project 1: Safety, Security and Surveillance
A study into social formations and the construction of new information and communication
technologies (ICTs) in the context of safety, security and surveillance. The implementation of these
new technologies tend to change the relationships between people and machines, make virtual settings
possible, and can have profound (un)intended consequences for organizational communication
patterns, information sharing and surveillance. Empirical domains:
a. Safety and Security Studies: research into the (re)organization of Emergency Response
Rooms for the police, the fire brigades and the first aid teams. It includes an analysis of the
ICT Systems in-use, netcentric work, urban safety, emerging communication networks and
the working routines on the floor. This research is carried out in close cooperation with
practitioners. [a22, a23, b11, b12, b13, b15, c6, d19, e33, e35, e38, e39].
b. Surveillance Studies: a study of the development and implementation of ICTs,
organizational change and surveillance. In my research I addresses the mutual shaping of
technology and organization. In studying ICTs I pay attention to the processes of user
practices, information sharing and surveillance within organizational contexts and social
networking sites (web 2.0). [a2, a9, a10, a12, a14, a19, a20, a22; b6, b7, b9, b16, b17, b18;
c7, c8, c9; d11, d13, d20].
Project 2: The Production of Knowledge
A study into knowledge creation, production and sharing in organizational networks and chains with
heterogeneous partners such as Higher Education Institutes, governmental research institutes,
industrial Research and Development (R&D) departments and interest groups. Empirical domains:
c. Higher Education Studies: A study of the (global) transformation of Higher Education
(HE) institutes. In this project I am interested in the question: (how) do policy makers at
universities anticipate upon internationalization of HE, and (how) do researchers and
teachers give meaning to transformations in HE. In this research I work with the Centre for
International Cooperation (CIS). [a13, a15, a17, a25, a26; b14; c3, c4, c5; d1, d14, d15,
d16].
d. Innovation Studies: A study into (industrial) R&D settings and university-industry
relations. The attention is on organizational change in techno-scientific settings. My PhDthesis
on the Philips R&D Department was one outcome of this project. Currently I study
university-industry relations in the context of city development and the urban space. [A,
a1, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a11, a13, a16, a21, a24; b1, b2, b9; c1; d2, d3, d5, d7, d8, d9, d10,
d12].
My research is based on triangulation of data and methods with an emphasis on qualitative methods,
such as life histories and historical, ethnographic and contextual analyses. I use also secondary
sources, such as written records in archives and literature. Interviews with key persons and participant
observation are carried out to result in case studies. The case studies will present the informants’ point
of view (life world perspective) while contributing to theoretical debates in organizational studies.
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