Collaborative Ties Within: Public Organizations and the Latent Capacity for Advice Network Formation

Abstract

Many organizations have benefited greatly from an informal structuring process, whereby individuals voluntarily cross intraorganizational boundaries to seek or share advice. Often referred to as advice networks, these collaborative ties can serve as a powerful social conduit for the circulation of information and knowledge. Yet, the extent to which public organizations might benefit from the emergence of advice networks may vary significantly. To help explain some of this variability and offer some guidance as to how public managers can assess the latent capacity of their organizations for advice network formation, this article reports on a study that looks for the precursors or earliest possible indicator of such capacity. Although in need of further investigation, the findings suggest that determining the mix of cultural personalities within an organization should be the starting point, or at least a prominent component, in any effort to assess that capacity. Implications of cultural personalities for organizations, human resources, and the individual are discussed with reference to future study and impact on organizational studies of collaborative ties and advice networks.