How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective
Boundary Spanners (BSs) substantially impact relationship development in megaprojects. Yet, previous research only focused on the emotional intelligence (EI) of single-level BSs, e.g., megaproject managers and decision-makers. By clustering BSs into higher-level BSs (HBSs) and middle-lower-level BS...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Civil Engineering and Management |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JCEM/article/view/24102 |
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| author | Tingting Cao Giorgio Locatelli Nigel Smith Lianying Zhang |
| author_facet | Tingting Cao Giorgio Locatelli Nigel Smith Lianying Zhang |
| author_sort | Tingting Cao |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Boundary Spanners (BSs) substantially impact relationship development in megaprojects. Yet, previous research only focused on the emotional intelligence (EI) of single-level BSs, e.g., megaproject managers and decision-makers. By clustering BSs into higher-level BSs (HBSs) and middle-lower-level BSs (M&LBSs), this article aims to investigate how to enhance inter-organizational relationships through different-level BSs’ EI and boundary-spanning behaviors including ambassadors, coordination and information scanning behaviors. Data from 119 HBSs and 171 M&LBSs in 15 megaprojects were first collected with a questionnaire survey. 18 semi-structured interviews were then undertaken to give a deeper explanation to the underlying mechanism. The results show that HBSs’ EI is directly and positively associated with inter-organizational relationships. However, the benefit of M&LBSs’ EI in megaprojects can only be realized through the mediating effect of their boundary-spanning behaviors. HBSs’ EI is effective in improving external ambassadors’ activities. In contrast, M&LBSs’ EI is effective in improving information scanning. This study advanced EI and relationship study in megaprojects, stating the mechanism between these two variables varies for different-level boundary spanners.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-06e2e02cae5549ab963db7c0ac096e9a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1392-3730 1822-3605 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Vilnius Gediminas Technical University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Civil Engineering and Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-06e2e02cae5549ab963db7c0ac096e9a2025-08-24T07:52:57ZengVilnius Gediminas Technical UniversityJournal of Civil Engineering and Management1392-37301822-36052025-08-0131610.3846/jcem.2025.24102How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspectiveTingting Cao0Giorgio Locatelli1Nigel Smith2Lianying Zhang3School of Management, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, ChinaPolitecnico Di Milano, Via Labruschini 4/B, 20156 Milano, ItalySchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKCollege of Management and Economic, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China Boundary Spanners (BSs) substantially impact relationship development in megaprojects. Yet, previous research only focused on the emotional intelligence (EI) of single-level BSs, e.g., megaproject managers and decision-makers. By clustering BSs into higher-level BSs (HBSs) and middle-lower-level BSs (M&LBSs), this article aims to investigate how to enhance inter-organizational relationships through different-level BSs’ EI and boundary-spanning behaviors including ambassadors, coordination and information scanning behaviors. Data from 119 HBSs and 171 M&LBSs in 15 megaprojects were first collected with a questionnaire survey. 18 semi-structured interviews were then undertaken to give a deeper explanation to the underlying mechanism. The results show that HBSs’ EI is directly and positively associated with inter-organizational relationships. However, the benefit of M&LBSs’ EI in megaprojects can only be realized through the mediating effect of their boundary-spanning behaviors. HBSs’ EI is effective in improving external ambassadors’ activities. In contrast, M&LBSs’ EI is effective in improving information scanning. This study advanced EI and relationship study in megaprojects, stating the mechanism between these two variables varies for different-level boundary spanners. https://journals.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JCEM/article/view/24102boundary spannerboundary spanning behavioremotional intelligenceinter-organizational relationshipsmixed-methodmegaproject |
| spellingShingle | Tingting Cao Giorgio Locatelli Nigel Smith Lianying Zhang How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective Journal of Civil Engineering and Management boundary spanner boundary spanning behavior emotional intelligence inter-organizational relationships mixed-method megaproject |
| title | How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective |
| title_full | How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective |
| title_fullStr | How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective |
| title_short | How emotional intelligence affects inter-organizational relationships in megaprojects: the boundary spanning perspective |
| title_sort | how emotional intelligence affects inter organizational relationships in megaprojects the boundary spanning perspective |
| topic | boundary spanner boundary spanning behavior emotional intelligence inter-organizational relationships mixed-method megaproject |
| url | https://journals.vilniustech.lt/index.php/JCEM/article/view/24102 |
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