Committed to whom? Professional knowledge worker commitment in cross-boundary organisations

This paper examines the impact of contemporary cross-boundary working on employee commitment. It contributes directly to the literature on employee commitment and in particular it advocates a multiplicity approach to commitment. We identify three foci of commitment which co-exist and illustrate their dynamic interaction. Importantly, our unit of analysis extends beyond the boundaries of the firm to include the actions of professional working which capture the main influences on employee commitment. Thematic analysis of data in 12 professional service firms identifies the interaction between the foci of commitment as well as managerial responses to tensions between the commitment foci that arise within the cross-boundary context.