Does the UK Book-Publishing Industry Today Lack Boundaries—or Frontiers?

This paper offers an original approach to examining the UK book-publishing industry over the past 30 years: as a case study within the context of boundaryless career theory. Boundaryless career theory has inspired a broad body of research but there is a research gap relating to its application in publishing. The paper considers how an industry that was largely boundaryless (with regular and often rapid transition of individuals between different organizations and functions), and was at the same time highly boundaried from external involvement (little penetrated by those without either previous connections or understanding), is now opening up to a range of external forces and personnel. This development has largely arisen from the digital revolution and the associated processes and practice of self-publishing. The paper considers the various existing stakeholders in the industry, and the impact that current changes may have on previous business models. Finally, it considers the transferable skills being gained by those acquiring publishing expertise and offers predictions about how these trends will impact on the publishing industry in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]