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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2003

Nikos Bozionelos

The study investigated the relationship of career instrumental and expressive intra‐organizational network resources with extrinsic and intrinsic career success and with the…

2041

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship of career instrumental and expressive intra‐organizational network resources with extrinsic and intrinsic career success and with the Big‐Five of personality in a sample of 264 white‐collar workers. Total network resources were associated with extrinsic and intrinsic career success above the contribution of human capital, demographics and mentoring received. And instrumental network resources contributed more strongly than expressive network resources to extrinsic career success. Furthermore, instrumental network resources emerged as important for intrinsic evaluations of hierarchical and interpersonal career success while expressive network resources emerged as important for intrinsic evaluations of job and interpersonal career success. There was limited support for the influence of personality on the accumulation of network resources. As hypothesized, conscientiousness was negatively associated with instrumental network resources; however, extra‐version, openness and agreeableness failed to make significant contributions to network resources over and above the contribution of human capital and demographics. The implications of the findings for individual career tactics and for organizational practices are discussed and the limitations of the study are considered along with directions for future research.

Details

The International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. 11 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1055-3185

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 23 August 2017

Victor Meins Pedersen and Sebastian Spon Kofod-Jensen

As multinational corporations are becoming larger and more complex, it becomes increasingly difficult to balance between the need for overall standardization in the multinational…

Abstract

As multinational corporations are becoming larger and more complex, it becomes increasingly difficult to balance between the need for overall standardization in the multinational corporation (MNC) and the need for local responsiveness. In order to allow subsidiaries to react on challenges and opportunities within their local markets, they should be granted with a certain level of decision-making autonomy. However, this freedom can facilitate a misalignment of activities among the headquarters and its subsidiaries.

This study suggests that subsidiaries should be granted with the autonomy to pursue own activities. There should, however, be limits to their independence, which should be aligned through a dialogue between the headquarters and the subsidiary. This study finds a positive correlation between strategic and operational autonomy and subsidiary performance when these are combined with a strong intra-organizational network relationship. Furthermore, the study argues that within operational autonomy it is important to distinguish between everyday activities that do not need approval from headquarters, and activities that should be decided in collaboration between the headquarters and the subsidiary. Subsidiaries that are operating in technological complex markets should be granted with the autonomy to take advantage of inter-organizational network relationships in order to exploit local knowledge and capabilities. However, this poses the risk of the subsidiaries losing connectivity to the MNC. In order to reduce this risk, the headquarters should combine such initiatives with a strong collaboration with its subsidiaries.

By establishing a strong intra-organizational network relationship, autonomy can have a positive effect on subsidiary performance.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 31 January 2020

Cristiano de Oliveira Maciel

The purpose of this paper is to present the construct of social intra-organizational connection (SIC). This construct reflects the extent to which a focal actor believes his…

1084

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the construct of social intra-organizational connection (SIC). This construct reflects the extent to which a focal actor believes his alters present behaviors of social inclusion in relation to himself. This assessment compares the ego’s expectations of being included and the behavior of inclusion performed by those alters with whom the actor has more frequent interactions. The effects of this construct are tested in the organizational domain regarding the intention to leave, in the domain of co-workers regarding cooperation and in the family domain regarding work–family conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey data were collected from 380 Brazilian workers.

Findings

The results confirmed the effects of SIC in the relational domain of the organization through the variation in the focal actor’s intention to leave. In the sphere of coworkers, the effects of SIC were found in the variation of the degree of cooperation. In the family sphere, SIC had an influence upon the intensity of the work–family conflict.

Originality/value

The research indicates that the behavior of making direct contacts and more frequent interactions by the focal actor extends to other relational spheres through the transitions of the organizational member between the domains of organization, coworkers and family. This paper draws attention to the need to consider the local networks, both within and beyond the organization, and their effects on each other.

Details

RAUSP Management Journal, vol. 55 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2531-0488

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 August 2018

Lyn Daff and Lisa Jack

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the importance of accountants’ networks inside organisations, the parties who comprise those networks and how accountants go…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the importance of accountants’ networks inside organisations, the parties who comprise those networks and how accountants go about building and maintaining their networks. It also illustrates the use of strong structuration theory, which specifically considers the networks that surround agents. The theoretical discussion highlights the significance of communication as agency in the context of accounting practice through a strong structuration perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach to the inquiry was adopted. Interviews were conducted with 30 Australian accountants from 22 not-for-profit organisations. A thematic approach was used to analyse the transcripts. Structuration theory, supplemented by strong structuration, informed the study.

Findings

The interviewees attested to the importance of communication and developing networks within their organisations. They actively sought to expand and enhance their networks. The accountants played a pivotal role in networks and they pursued both horizontal and vertical relations. The accountants’ knowledge of organisational positions and perceptions of their own roles were used strategically in attempts to alter the internal structures of networked others.

Research limitations/implications

The interviewed accountants worked in not-for-profit organisations and this may influence the findings. Future research might consider accountants working in for-profit organisations. The study provides insights into strategies to develop intra-organisational networks.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the meagre literature regarding accountants’ networks within organisations. It provides insights that may assist accountants in enhancing their own networks. Although structuration theory is well-established in accounting research, the enrichments offered by strong structuration are illustrated in this study.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 31 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2018

Haiyuan Zhao and Xiaobao Peng

This paper aims to draw on the network perspective of organizational innovation to present an argument on how a subsidiary should select innovation behavior.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to draw on the network perspective of organizational innovation to present an argument on how a subsidiary should select innovation behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

In this framework, the paper analyzes middle- and high-level managers of subsidiaries from various industries located in the Chinese Mainland.

Findings

The results suggest the following ideas: internal embeddedness is positively related to exploitation innovation, external embeddedness is inverted-U related to exploration innovation, the availability of alternatives positively moderates the main effects, whereas restraint in the use of power negatively moderates them.

Research limitations/implications

The current study has a few limitations that provide meaningful research directions for future investigations. First, it only considers the industry and ownership as control variables. Second, this study was conducted in the Chinese context.

Practical implications

The analysis of the relationship between embeddedness and innovation behavior also shows that focal subsidiary must dynamically adjust the way of embeddedness on the basis of its strategy, and it can reasonable leverage strategic assets for exploitation innovation or exploration innovation. From the perspective of headquarters, establishing deep embeddedness with a subsidiary and giving it indispensable support are important to promote that subsidiary’s exploitation innovation.

Social implications

The focal subsidiary should establish relationships with more alternative partners and develop relationships with power-advantaged partners through strategies such as a long-term contract, establishing an R&D alliance and entering a joint venture. Besides this, more powerful partners in the internal network should adopt various power usage strategies to promote focal subsidiary exploitation innovation and more powerful partners in the external network should show restraint in the use of power toward any subsidiary in an over-embedded situation. The result shows environment dynamism affects subsidiary exploration innovation more deeply than exploitation innovation. Consequently, managers should recognize the importance of dynamic adaptation to environmental changes and adjust their firms’ innovation behavior accordingly, especially when they are implementing an exploration innovation strategy.

Originality/value

The extent of embeddedness in an innovation network shapes the subsidiary innovation behavior, and this effect is moderated by power. The focal subsidiary should dynamically and strategically adjust its innovation behavior considering various its type and level of embeddedness.

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2006

Maria de Lurdes Veludo, Douglas Macbeth and Sharon Purchase

The paper seeks to provide a framework for analyzing business relationships and networks within organizational, spatial, relational and network contexts.

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Abstract

Purpose

The paper seeks to provide a framework for analyzing business relationships and networks within organizational, spatial, relational and network contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case study method is applied to highlight the applicability of the relationship/network framework applying. The case was a large multinational organization, with this research focusing on its European subsidiaries. Business relationships and the industrial network into which the case firm is embedded provided many different types of relationships to analyze.

Findings

The results highlight how the different types of relationships can be analyzed using the framework. The framework proved useful for all types of relationships raised in the case study.

Research limitations/implications

The method used a single case study, and further testing with other cases would highlight the generalizability of the framework.

Practical implications

The framework is a useful tool to assist managers when analyzing the variety of relationships and industrial networks in which they currently operate.

Originality/value

The paper fills a need to develop approaches to analyze business relationships and the networks in which they are embedded.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 21 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2009

Stefano Borzillo

Prior research on managing communities of practice (CoP) has not investigated top management's involvement in detail. The purpose of this paper is to present three detailed and

2723

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research on managing communities of practice (CoP) has not investigated top management's involvement in detail. The purpose of this paper is to present three detailed and successful mechanisms through which top management contributes to the guidance of CoPs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an investigation of 47 CoPs conducted in several organizations. Data collection was achieved using a qualitative questionnaire, followed by in‐depth interviews with leaders of CoPs.

Findings

This study explored three mechanisms used by sponsors to successfully guide CoPs. More specifically, the findings highlight a set of operational means used by top management – via sponsors – to supervise and facilitate best practice development and sharing within CoPs.

Research limitations/implications

The CoPs should be examined by means of an ethnological approach, thus interacting with many members of the same CoP to gain an in‐depth understanding of each mechanism's significance for the sponsorship's success. There is also a need to further explore how the three sponsorship mechanisms are interrelated.

Originality/value

Through numerous examples extracted from different multinational organizations, this paper offers clear guidelines for top managers on how to improve their support to CoPs in their organization.

Details

Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1367-3270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 August 2019

Sven Dahms and Suthikorn Kingkaew

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what role national top management team diversity (TMTD) plays in foreign-owned subsidiary performance. The authors develop a conceptual…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what role national top management team diversity (TMTD) plays in foreign-owned subsidiary performance. The authors develop a conceptual framework based on the asset bundling model and the neo-configurational perspective to argue that the impact of TMTD on subsidiary performance depends on its conjunction with other assets.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test our framework on a sample of subsidiaries located in the emerging economies of Thailand and Taiwan. The authors utilise structural equation modelling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis techniques.

Findings

The results indicate that TMTD can contribute and hurt subsidiary performance depending on its bundling with other assets such as organisational network strength, competencies, as well as regional and cultural differences between the home and host country.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to empirically test the asset bundling model in the context of national TMTD in foreign-owned subsidiaries using a configurational approach.

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2023

Moses Ahomka Yeboah

This study aims to examine how differences in the strength of interpersonal ties affect the social structure of organisational family and non-family relationships and their…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine how differences in the strength of interpersonal ties affect the social structure of organisational family and non-family relationships and their implications for work-related interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative approach. The hypotheses were tested using multi-group analysis in PLS-SEM as implemented in WarpPLS Version.

Findings

The results show that both family and non-family organisational members are inclined to ask from others whom they previously have given information, implying that reciprocity in work-related interactions in the workplace is present at the dyad level. Furthermore, the existing robust strength of ties among family employees facilitate a three-way relationship where each member is responsible for the quality of work-related interactions between other members. This means that triadic communication is only present within family networks. While, the absence of strong interpersonal ties within non-family network fuels the popularity effect, where non-family employees who are perceived to be knowledgeable tend to be approached by others for work-related information.

Originality/value

This study brings to the fore a nuanced perspective that complements our current understanding of the implications of social relationships within family and non-family employee groups on work-related interactions in the workplace. It provides clues on how family and non-family employees identify with the firm through their informal relational embeddedness towards work-related interactions within the organisation.

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 46 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1999

C. Stuart Jones

The pursuit of cost efficiency in the British National Health Service has resulted in increased emphasis on devolved financial accountability and the introduction of an internal…

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Abstract

The pursuit of cost efficiency in the British National Health Service has resulted in increased emphasis on devolved financial accountability and the introduction of an internal market. With the aid of a case study, this paper examines alternative forms of governance and proposes that aspects of the internal market and functioning within acute hospital units, are suited to network‐style organisation. The implications of hierarchies and networks for the design and use of management accounting information (MAI) are identified. These are used to analyse the case evidence concerning the roles, intended and unintended, of MAI in the context of organisational change and where multiple, and sometimes conflicting, goals and priorities existed. It concludes that a network approach to the design of MAI is more consistent with the desirable culture, at operational level, in acute units. However, this will only be achieved through deliberate intervention by those who design MAI systems and senior managers, who by their attitudes towards the interpretation and response to MAI, shape overall organisational culture.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 4000