Individual Centrality Research Articles

The Application of Signature Character Strengths and Positive Experiences at Work

We hypothesized that the amount of positive experiences at work (job satisfaction, pleasure, engagement, meaning) is a function of the extent to which the situational circumstances at the workplace allow for the application of an individual’s signature character strengths. For the description of the individual a reliable and valid instrument already exists, but not for the environment. Hence, the newly developed Applicability of Character Strengths Rating Scales (ACS-RS) with information on its reliability and validity were also presented. A sample of 1,111 adults filled in the ACS-RS and measures for possession of character strengths and positive experiences at work. The ACS-RS was reliable by means of internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. It proved to be valid in several ways being sensitive to: (a) the differences in the applicability of trait-relevant behavior in formal versus informal situations by showing higher applicability of the character strengths in the latter; (b) the differences between traits regarding their applicability across situations; (c) people’s disposition to choose situations fitting their dispositions by showing positive relationships between the degree of possession and applicability. Moreover, correlations between applicability of strengths and positive experiences increased with the individual centrality of the strengths. The more signature strengths were applied at the workplace, the higher the positive experiences at work. This study showed that character strengths matter in vocational environments irrespective of their content. Strengths-congruent activities at the workplace are important for positive experiences at work like job satisfaction and experiencing pleasure, engagement, and meaning fostered by one’s job.

Achieving Consensus with Individual Centrality Approach

This paper proposes a new consensus model in participatory decision making. The model employs advice centrality approach by electing a leader and recommender named as Supra Decision Maker (SDM). A SDM has a role as a decision bench-marker to other decision makers in evaluating each alternative with respect to given criteria. The weighting value for each alternative can be obtained by considering consensus level and preferences’ distances between SDM and other Decision Makers. A social function using Social Judgment Scheme (SJS) concept is employed when a decision does not achieve the required consensus level. A simple example is presented here to illustrate our model.

The Multilevel Effects of Network Embeddedness on Interpersonal Citizenship Behavior

Interpersonal citizenship behavior (ICB) in organizations is an inherently relational and multilevel phenomenon. Using a multilevel framework, this study investigates the different levels of social network antecedents of ICBs. Specifically, the authors examine the effects of individual-level network characteristics (centrality and transitivity) and group-level network properties (density and centralization) on individuals’ ICBs. From a sample of 846 individuals in 149 work groups, the authors find that individual centrality and the network density of a group increased group members’ ICBs and note the positive joint effect of both predictors. Furthermore, consistent with their prediction, the tendency for individuals embedded in a local triad to display less ICB is greater in the decentralized group. This result shows a possible trade-off between structural positions in local and global networks in facilitating individuals’ ICBs.

Variance in Centrality within Rock Hyrax Social Networks Predicts Adult Longevity

BackgroundIn communal mammals the levels of social interaction among group members vary considerably. In recent years, biologists have realized that within-group interactions may affect survival of the group members. Several recent studies have demonstrated that the social integration of adult females is positively associated with infant survival, and female longevity is affected by the strength and stability of the individual social bonds. Our aim was to determine the social factors that influence adult longevity in social mammals.Methodology/Principal FindingsAs a model system, we studied the social rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), a plural breeder with low reproductive skew, whose groups are mainly composed of females. We applied network theory using 11 years of behavioral data to quantify the centrality of individuals within groups, and found adult longevity to be inversely correlated to the variance in centrality. In other words, animals in groups with more equal associations lived longer. Individual centrality was not correlated with longevity, implying that social tension may affect all group members and not only the weakest or less connected ones.Conclusions/SignificanceOur novel findings support previous studies emphasizing the adaptive value of social associations and the consequences of inequality among adults within social groups. However, contrary to previous studies, we suggest that it is not the number or strength of associations that an adult individual has (i.e. centrality) that is important, but the overall configuration of social relationships within the group (i.e. centrality SD) that is a key factor in influencing longevity.

How Do They Become Nodes? Revisiting Team Member Network Centrality

ABSTRACT The present study examines the antecedents of team member network centrality using a sample of 207 team members. Team member network centrality indicates how closely the individual is linked to others in the group. The authors investigated the role of personality traits, interpersonal citizenship behavior (ICB), education, and team tenure on an individual's network centrality. The authors also examined the mediating effect of ICB on the relationship between personality traits and team member network centrality. Results supported the relation between (a) personal traits—conscientiousness and agreeableness—and (b) ICB and network centrality. In addition, ICB mediated the relation between conscientiousness and network centrality and between agreeableness and network centrality, respectively. That is, people who are more conscientious and agreeable manifest more ICB and therefore more possibly become nodes within their teams’ social network. Further, results supported the idea that education and team tenure are positively related to network centrality. The authors discuss the theoretical contributions and implications.

Modularity matrix of networks and the measure of community structure

The relationships between positive （negative） eigenspectrums and the structure properties of community （anti-community） of complex networks are investigated, and some corresponding definitions are given. By using the multieigenspectrums of modularity matrix of networks, a kind of structural centrality measure called the community centrality, is introduced. This individual centrality measure describes the strength that the individual adheres to the corresponding community. The measure is illustrated and compared with the standard centrality measures using several artificial networks and real world networks data. The results show that the community centrality has better discrimination, and it has positive correlation with the degree centrality.

A measure of authors’ centrality in co-authorship networks based on the distribution of collaborative relationships

Although there are many measures of centrality of individuals in social networks, and those centrality measures can be applied to the analysis of authors’ importance in co-authorship networks, the distribution of an author’s collaborative relationships among different communities has not been considered. This distribution or extensity is an important aspect of authors’ activity. In the present study, we will propose a new measure termed extensity centrality, taking into account the distribution of an author’s collaborative relationships. In computing the strength of collaborative ties, which is closely related to the extensity centrality, we choose Salton’s measure. We choose the ACM SIGKDD data as our testing data set, and analyze the result of authors’ importance from different points of view.

Knowledge transfer in MNCs: Examining how intrinsic motivations and knowledge sourcing impact individual centrality and performance

Abstract Studies investigating individual performance in knowledge-intensive work are finding that individual performance is a result, to some degree, of obtaining the right information to solve novel, challenging problems. Yet we know little about the role that the individual plays in the knowledge processes in multinationals and the relationship between individual knowledge sourcing activities and performance. Our expectation is that successful knowledge transfer will be based on an individual's intrinsic motivation, access to knowledge from explicit or tacit knowledge sources within and across firm boundaries, and position in the overall advice network of the multinational corporation. Using survey and social network data collected in one multinational consulting firm, we investigated the knowledge sourcing activities and informal advice networks for 1439 of the entire 1698 individuals in one multinational spread across 28 offices (84.7% response rate). Through hierarchical regression analysis we find that 1) intrinsic motivations are strongly related to creativity and efficiency and 2) MNCs should support individual level activities that include not only the use of internal knowledge sources but also the use of external knowledge sources. Research results also suggest that 3) there are different patterns of knowledge sourcing activities based on whether efficient or creative performance is the goal and 4) these differ significantly depending upon the functional group to which the individual belongs. Implications for theories of the knowledge-based view of the multinational corporation and practical implications for managers are discussed.

Social network analysis of medication advice-seeking interactions among staff in an Australian hospital

Purpose To examine the medication advice-seeking network of staff in a hospital ward. Methods Social network analysis was carried out in a renal ward of an Australian metropolitan teaching hospital. The medication advice-seeking interactions of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals (including a pharmacist) and a ward clerk were examined using data from questionnaires administered to staff. The questionnaire listed all staff who worked in the ward and sought information from respondents regarding their interactions with each staff member. Data were analysed using social network software, UCINET. Analyses performed included geodesic distance, network density, strength of ties, reciprocation of relations, and centrality of individuals. NetDraw was used to produce social network diagrams. Results A very high response rate of 96% was achieved with 45 of 47 staff returning the questionnaire. On average, there is little interaction between each of the staff members in the medication advice-seeking network, with even less interaction between staff from different professional groups. Nurses are mainly located on one side of the network and doctors on the other. However, the pharmacist is quite central in the medication advice-seeking network as are some senior nurses and a junior doctor. Conclusions When hospital clinical staff seek medication advice from other members of a ward it tends to be sought from those in their profession. However key individuals in the ward are relied upon for the provision of medication advice by staff from all professions. Social network analysis can be used to examine the complex medication advice-seeking interactions amongst staff in a hospital ward, providing useful quantitative baseline data against which to compare the effect of interventions, such as an electronic medication system, on interactions.

Who are my family members? Bridging and binding social capital in family configurations

This study tests the hypothesis that individuals’ identification of family members has an impact on the type of family-based social capital available to them. Data from a sample of college students from three universities in Switzerland ( N = 229), provided evidence that seven typical family configurations coexist. These configurations vary with respect to the importance given to partnerships, friendships, stepparents and parents’ relatives. Family configurations based on blood connections provide a ‘binding’ type of social capital, that is, densely connected family networks with low individual centrality, whereas family configurations based on friendship provide a ‘bridging’ type of social capital, that is, sparsely connected family networks with high individual centrality. Postdivorce family configurations are associated with neither type of social capital.

Renascença da indústria brasileira de filmes: destinos entrelaçados?

O objetivo é contribuir para a investigação sobre a dinâmica de campos organizacionais a partir de uma abordagem de análise de redes. Para isso, foi reconstruída a rede da indústria brasileira de filmes de 1994 a 2002 e analisados os fatores de previsão da performance individual, explorando sua relação com as características relevantes dos indivíduos. O papel categórico (ator, diretor, produtor) é um dos elementos mais poderosos de previsão da performance individual entre 1994 e 1996. Entretanto, em períodos subseqüentes, outras variáveis estratégicas ganham maior relevância, tais como o reconhecimento individual, a centralidade e a equivalência estrutural. Esses resultados sugerem que, em uma indústria em rede e que se encontra em desenvolvimento, o sucesso coletivo é mais importante que o sucesso individual.

The Italian Banks' Concept of the Internet: A Compared Analysis with Europe and USA

ABSTRACT If in the sixties it was sufficient to manage well the basic principles of mass marketing, nowadays, with the achievement of the centrality of individuals and the supremacy of consumer, a business' trump card is innovation and quality of product service. It comes out of the necessity to use instruments that can build and hold a relationship with evolved, participating customers, who show still more sophisticated expectations in services' quality and supply's flexibility. We cannot but see in the Internet a fruitful ground for the development of the above-mentioned relationship. All these elements, together with the theme of orientation to the customer shown by banks' web sites, will be discussed in the following article and will lay the foundations to the analysis and comment of the data got out of the formulation and implementation of a four-year observation of the financial field in Italy, Europe, Russia, United States and Canada.

THE JANUS FACE OF INTRA-FIRM TIES: GROUP-WIDE AND AFFILIATE-LEVEL INNOVATION BY MULTI-BUSINESS FIRMS IN TAIWAN.

Business groups are multi-business firms in which network ties between affiliates shape the innovative incentives and abilities of the group's businesses. We consider three types of intra-firm linkages within business groups: operating, director, and investment ties. Such ties create both opportunities and constraints for innovation by units of a business group and, in aggregate, for the group as a whole — opportunities that arise from access to information, people, money, and other resources, but also constraints that arise from entrenched relationships among different actors and a short term focus on immediate activities. We test our predictions by investigating how the overall density and individual centrality of ties affects group and affiliate innovativeness within 267 business groups in Taiwan between 1981 and 2000. The most innovative groups tend to be those with loosely-connected operating and director relationships, along with tight investment ties that allow them to share financial resources amo...

Individual Centrality and Performance in Virtual R&D Groups: An Empirical Study

Communication technologies support virtual R&D groups by enabling immediate and frequent interaction of their geographically-distributed members. Performance of members in such groups has yet to be studied longitudinally. A model proposes not only direct effects of functional role, status, and communication role on individual performance, but also indirect effects through individual centrality. Social network analysis was performed on e-mail samples from two time periods separated by four years. Analysis revealed both direct and indirect effects as hypothesized; however, the indirect effects were more consistent in both time periods. The clearest findings were that centrality mediates the effects of functional role, status, and communication role on individual performance. Interestingly, centrality was a stronger direct predictor of performance than the individual characteristics considered in this study. The study illustrates the usefulness of accounting for network effects for better understanding individual performance in virtual groups.

Technology Requirements and Work Group Communication for Telecommuters

As organizations implement more and more distributed work arrangements such as telecommuting, there is a need to understand the determinants of success of this new work setting. This research investigated three variables believed to impact outcomes in telecommuting: the availability of information system technology, the availability of communication technologies, and the communication patterns of telecommuters within their work groups. Two perspectives are used in this study. The direct effects of these three variables on perceived productivity, performance, and satisfaction were tested. A second perspective, based on the concept of fit and contingency theory, posits that successful telecommuting outcomes, measured by perceived productivity, performance, and satisfaction, are predicted by interactions between these independent variables. The study was conducted by surveying multiple respondents from different organizations who were members of work groups in which some or all employees were telecommuters. The results indicate that technology variables positively impact productivity, performance, and satisfaction of telecommuters, while the interaction between the technology variables is significant in predicting perceived productivity. Work group communication, as measured by the centrality of individuals, negatively affects perceived productivity and performance. The paper presents a discussion of the theoretical significance of these findings, and offers recommendations for future research.

Centrality in affiliation networks

This paper discusses the conceptualization, measurement, and interpretation of centrality in affiliation networks. Although centrality is a well-studied topic in social network analysis, and is one of the most widely used properties for studying affiliation networks, virtually all discussions of centrality and centralization have concerned themselves with one-mode networks. Bonacich's work on simultaneous group and individual centralities is a notable exception (Social Networks, 1991, 13, 155–168). I begin by outlining the distinctive features of affiliation networks and describe four motivations for centrality indices in affiliation networks. I then consider properties of some existing centrality indices for affiliation networks, including the relationship between centralities for actors and events in these networks, and present a new conceptualization of centrality that builds on the formal properties of affiliation networks and captures important theoretical insights about the positions of actors and events in these networks. These centralities are then illustrated on Galaskiewicz's data on club and board memberships of a sample of corporate executive officers (Social Organization of an Urban Grants Economy. New York: Academic Press, 1985). The conclusion to this paper discusses strengths and weaknesses of centrality indices when applied to affiliation networks.

Simultaneous group and individual centralities

Abstract A completely symmetric pair of measures of individual and group centrality is described. The centralities of groups are a function of the centralities of their members. The centralities of individuals are a function of the centralities of the groups to which they belong. It is shown that the standard approach to controlling for variations in group size is inadequate. It produces measures of centrality that are roughly proportional to the square roots of group sizes. A better way to control for variations in group size or in the numbers of individual memberships is presented. Comparisons are made with correspondence analysis.