New research was conducted by Eric Quintane, associate professor of organisational behaviour at ESMT Berlin, alongside colleagues Julija N. Mell, Assistant Professor in the department of Organisation and Personnel management at RSM, Giles Hirst, Australia National University, and Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Consulting Group. The aim was to understand when and why supervisors may undermine employees’ attempts at boundary spanning: the seeking of advice with other employees outside their group or department. The researchers say that, although advice-seeking from other employees external to their department is hugely positive for employees, their group, and the company in fostering innovation and finding solutions to problems, supervisors can undermine employee’s efforts to do so, due to fears of losing control over their group.