Segmentors and integrators

Good boundaries help us cope in a range of situations. Some of us know so clearly where our boundaries lie: others are more fluid. I prefer to work with those who are clear, even definite about their boundaries, because it reduces ambiguity for those of us who work around them. Nancy Rothbard, a Professor at the Wharton Business School explains that we tend to fall into one of two categories when it comes to setting work boundaries: we are 'integrators' or 'segmentors'. Integrators are those of us "who don’t mind blurring the boundary between work and home", while segmentors are those "who have a strong desire to separate business from personal life" (Rothbard, 2020; Rothbard & Ollier-Malaterre, 2016). We all have "different preferences for when and how [we] get [ou]r work done" (Rothbard, 2020): something that became really apparent during the Covid-19 lock downs. 

It is helpful to know what our boundaries are, before a crisis forces us to face them. Regardess of what time of work we do, "knowing [...]our place on the integrator-segmentor spectrum might help [us] set healthy boundaries or articulate [...]our preferences" to those with whom we work. "For example, segmentors may prefer to stick to a predetermined schedule for working hours, while integrators might prefer to intersperse personal tasks, such as exercise or childcare, between periods of work" (Stolzoff, 2023, 66%).

Rothbard notes that neither group performs better than the other, and having flexibility in policies and processes smooths the path for all organisational staff (2020; Rothbard & Ollier-Malaterre, 2016). "Managers should take note as well, as the same policy might not be as effective for two different workers. An integrator might appreciate the freedom of a flexible deadline so they can accomplish the work on their own schedule, but the same flexibility might stress out a segmentor, who prefers clear timelines (Stolzoff, 2023, 66%).

Articulating our needs, and acceptance of who we are, makes for a better workplace. 

Sam

References:

Rothbard, N. P. (2020, August 31). Integrators and Segmentors: Managing Remote Workers. Knowledge at Wharton. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/integrators-segmentors-managing-remote-workers

Rothbard, N. P., & Ollier-Malaterre, A. (2016). Chapter 9: Boundary Management. In T. D. Allen & L. T. Eby (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Work and Family (pp. 109–122). Oxford University Press.

Stolzoff, S. (2023). The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work[e-book]. Penguin.