MORSe (Management and Organization Research Seminars): "Inter-Organizational Hierarchies, Social Networks, and Identities in Multi-Unit Organizations"

Dr. Dean Lusher (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Thursday the 28th of February, in room 251, from 12.30 to 14.00

Abstract
Organizations operate as complex systems. Much effort is invested into the constitutive members and the overall structure of the organization for its efficient functioning. A key question of interest is the degree to which organizational members behave in line with the structure, norms and expectations of the organization. That is, while formal organizational structure is no doubt important, to what degree does the informal social hierarchy align with such organizational imperatives? To examine this issue, this research examines communication relations between managers of a newly formed corporation consisting of a merger of a number of specialized companies. Using statistical models for multiple social networks the interplay between hierarchies, social networks and organizational identities within an international multiunit organization are explored. The results indicate that the informal organizational hierarchy is not dependent upon the formal interpersonal hierarchical structures, but is dependent on particular attributes of the individuals in the network. Specifically, more highly active communicators within the informal hierarchy are individuals who identify with the organizational group but not the individual companies of which the organization is comprised. There is evidence that these individuals act as ‘boundary crossers’ in their communication ties across companies, even allowing for a number of other factors important to organizational function. Further, those with whom they communicate are salient individuals within the informal hierarchy who have lower company tenure but higher organizational group tenure. The results demonstrate the implications of the mutually constitutive character of interpersonal and inter-organizational relations within multiunit organizations.