This article reports on a project focused on understanding the work of the Knowledge Co-op (KC) at the University of Cape Town in terms of community engagement and partnership building. The project tested tools for analyzing complex university–community interactions, or “boundary work.” Rather than analyzing the actual partnerships and research itself, activity theory was used as a framework for understanding the role of the KC broker, a key role in university–community partnership work. The activity theory lens assisted in identifying the complex work entailed in the broker role. In particular, the authors argue that in order to understand what
happens at the university–community nexus, the unit of analysis needs to shift from individualized practices toward the transaction/boundary zone where these interactions take place.