Saying Hello and Waving Goodbye: Intra-Organizational Tie Formation when Brokers Leave

Abstract

Brokers, who serve as indirect ties between others, can play an important role in the formation of new collaborative relationships. Yet we know little about how the mobility of such individuals changes the role that they play. In this paper, I explore the how the organizational exit of individuals in brokerage positions influences tie formation between previously unconnected workers. Whereas these exiting individuals may be expected to play a lesser role in the formation of new collaborative relationships, I argue that they may in fact play a greater role as their exit will both stimulate demand for such helpful brokering among the workers they will leave behind and alter the costs of this type of brokering. I explore the impact of brokers on tie formation using data on employees engaged in scientific research within a single organization. Using journal article co-authorship to identify collaborative ties, I find support for my argument. Furthermore, I show how the role of exiting brokers varies depending upon the nature of their exit, tie strength, and the relative status of the brokers. In so doing, this paper illuminates how new tie formation is shaped by the mobility of brokers, extending our understanding of the dynamics of collaborative networks within organizational settings, brokerage, and the effects of employee mobility.