大学職員組織におけるスキマ業務の特質

―対応当事者の認識構造の観点から―

抄録

 This study aims to clarify the characteristics and challenges of Sukima-Gyomu, which are informal unassigned tasks that emerge at the boundaries between departments in administrative organizations of Japanese universities. Although these organizations operate within highly specialized and bureaucratic structures, such a division of labor often leads to siloization, fragmented responsibility, and tasks that cannot be fully addressed through existing job allocations. Accordingly, this study analyzes how frontline staff cognitively interpret and respond to coordination tasks by using an inductive qualitative analytical approach based on semi-structured interviews with six full-time staff members across seven cases. The findings identified ten conceptual categories. Interstitial work arises as sudden and ambiguous tasks shaped by psychological boundaries between departments and faculty and are often managed through individualized judgments — “whoever can handle it does so.” Although this enables flexible responses, it also risks uneven workload distribution and organizational neglect.

 Two key challenges were identified: siloization rooted in departmental subcultures and increasing role ambiguity in coordination functions amid the growth of non-regular staff. Further research should explore coordination processes from multiple perspectives to consider systematic organizational support.