Intra-group Network Research Articles

Cascaded Semantic Fractionation for identifying a domain in social media.

Searching social media to find relevant semantic domains often results in large text files, many of which are irrelevant due to cross-domain content resulting from word polysemy, abstractness, and degree centrality. Through an iterative pruning process, Cascaded Semantic Fractionation (CSF) systematically removes these cross-domain links. The social network procedure performs community detection in semantic networks, locates the semantic groups containing the terms of interest, excludes intergroup links, and repeats community detection on the pruned intragroup network until the domain of interest is clarified. To illustrate CSF, we analyzed public Facebook posts, using the CrowdTangle app for historical data search, from February 3, 2020, to March 13, 2021, about the possible Wuhan lab leak of COVID-19 over a daily interval. The initial search using keywords located six multi-day bursts of posts of more than 500 per day among 95 K posts. These posts were network analyzed to find the domain of interest using the iterative community detection and pruning process. CSF can be applied to capture the evolutions in semantic domains over time. At the outset, the lab leak theory was presented in conspiracy theory terms. Over time, the conspiratorial elements washed out in favor of an accidental release as the issue moved from social to mainstream media and official government views. CSF identified the relevant social media semantic domain and tracked its changes.

Pricing Strategies of Registration System and Transaction System in Live Broadcast Platform

This paper investigates a supply chain consisting of the monopoly live broadcast platform, content producers, and consumers. Based on the two‐sided market theory, the platform’s pricing strategies and their analysis are considered under the registration system and the transaction system. Firstly, it shows that platform users’ scale and profit are positively correlated with the intergroup network externality from both sides and the intragroup network externality inside the consumer group and negatively correlated with the intragroup network externality inside the content producer group. Secondly, the platform profit, registration fee charged to content producers, and transaction fee charged to consumers are negatively correlated to the content production cost and positively related to consumers’ content quality sensitivity coefficient. When consumers are more sensitive to content quality, they are positively correlated to content quality. Finally, the registration fee charged by the platform to consumers is positively correlated with the content production cost, negatively correlated with the content quality level, and positively associated with the consumer content quality sensitivity coefficient.

Exploring student teachers’ social knowledge construction behaviors and collective agency in an online collaborative learning environment

ABSTRACT The potential of online collaborative learning has been recognized in teacher education, and the value student teachers’ collective agency in predict their sustainable professional develop has been discussed. However, there is limited understanding of how student teachers’ collaborative knowledge construction behaviors correlate with their collective agency. This study investigated one class of student teachers’ collaborative knowledge construction behavioral pattern in a multi-layered interaction activity, and further explained their correlation with the participants’ collective agency. A total of 50 third-year student teachers from a class of a university in central China participated in the study. The results suggested that in terms of the average density, both intragroup and intergroup interaction networks were high-density ones. However, the number of interactions within each group was uneven. The student teachers had different reciprocity in intragroup and intergroup discussions. Their social knowledge construction behavioral patterns showed different characteristics in different stages of the multi-layered interaction activity. The questionnaire survey and interview data further revealed that though the student teachers built up collaborative learning awareness to some extent, their collective agency still has space to be improved. The authors conclude with some insights into the online collaborative learning in sustainable teachers’ professional development.

Attenuating the negative effects of network change on innovation: A whole network level analysis of Taiwanese business groups

This paper investigates when and how changes in interorganizational networks affect innovation at a whole-network level. We consider three forms of network change as suggested by prior research on networks: membership change, change in network structure, and tie restructuring. We examine the independent and interactive effects between membership change and other types of network changes on group innovation. Our longitudinal analyses of the intra-group network changes in Taiwanese business groups show that membership change in the intra-group networks has a negative effect on group-level innovation. However, the negative effect is attenuatedwhen the centralization of intra-group networks decreases and when ties involving hub firms are reconfigured. The findings provide implications for both inter-firm network governance and innovation management, especially in the context of business groups.

Negative Intra Group Network Externalities in a Monopolistic Two-Sided Market

Abstract This paper analyzes the optimal market structures and pricing strategies of a monopolist platform in a two-sided market where the agents on each side prefer the platform to be less competitive on their side; that is, in a market with negative intra-group network externalities. Results show that the equilibrium market structure varies with the extent of negative intra-group network externalities. If the negative network externalities are substantial, that is, if an agent’s disutility due to a larger sized market on his side is high (enough), then the profit-maximizing strategy for the matchmaker will be to match the highest types of one side with all of the agents on the other side. In that case, the matchmaker will charge a high entrance fee from the former side and allow free entrance to the agents of the latter side. However, if the network externalities are not substantial, then the matchmaker will maximize profits by matching an equal number of agents from each side. This paper thus provides an explanation of the asymmetric pricing schedules in two-sided markets when the matchmaker uses a one-program pricing schedule.

Value-added service investment strategy of a two-sided platform with the negative intra-group network externality

PurposeConsidering the resource constraint, this paper aims to study how to make value-added service (VAS) investment strategy considering the negative intra-group network externality on the seller side from the perspective of a two-sided platform.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the dynamic game theory, optimization, sensitive analysis and numerical study in this research. The authors model their research question from the perspective of the dynamic game theory, and through optimizing the platform’s profit function, the equilibrium results in terms of VAS investing and pricing strategies are derived. To explore the characteristics of the optimal strategies, sensitive analysis is used, and numerical studies are conducted to further illustrate the analytical results.FindingsIt is found that the intra-group network externality is not necessarily the determinant for VAS investment strategy, and its overall negative impact can be overtaken by the investment in certain conditions. The optimal VAS investment level decreases in the negative intra-group network externality. Though the VAS investment is on the seller side, it has either positive or negative impact on the pricing for buyers. Moreover, for a stronger intra-group network externality among sellers, the two-sided prices could either increase or decrease.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors implicate how the intra-group network externality reduces the investment benefit and impacts the other side users. The limitation of considering the intra-group network externalities on only one side needs further extension.Practical implicationsThe authors provide insights for platform operators in how to use recourse to improve users’ utility and how to price the two sides when competition exists on the seller side.Originality/valueThis study specifies the role of negative intra-group network externality in determining the investment and pricing strategy of a two-sided platform in addition to the positive inter-group network externality.

Inside and Outside: Network Advantages and R&D among Business Group Affiliates

Strategy scholars have shown that business groups stimulate research and development (R&D) among their affiliates through internal resource sharing and mobilization. However, it remains largely unclear why some business group affiliates outperform others in R&D. I adopt a network perspective and examine how network connections within the business group and network connections at the local market exert impact on affiliates’ R&D. I center my investigation around R&D initiation, R&D spending, and R&D failure. First, I propose that closeness centrality and brokerage (in both intragroup network and local market network) are network advantages that have a positive effect on R&D initiation. Second, equity ties within the business group and direct business ties at the local market are positively related to R&D spending. Last, I explain why business group affiliates may not turn R&D effort into innovation outputs. Theoretical, empirical, and practical implications are discussed.

개인간 네트워크 구조와 집단내 네트워크 구조가 창의성에 미치는 영향

본 연구는 기존 창의성 연구에서 많이 연구되지 않았던 창의성의 다수준 관점(multi-level approach) 및 창의성과 사회적 네트워크와의 관계를 고찰하였다. 34팀, 197명을 대상으로 sociometrix기법(roster method)을 적용하여 분석하였다. 분석결과 개인간 네트워크 근접 중심성은 개인 창의성과 정적 선형관계일 것이라는 가설1-1은 지지되었고, 개인간 네트워크 연결정도 중심성과 개인 창의성의 관계는 가설1-2와는 다르게 부적 선형관계로 나타났다. 집단내 네트워크의 집중도 및 밀도는 집단 창의성과 관계가 없는 것으로 나타나 가설 2-1, 2-2는 기각되었다. 마지막으로 HLM을 통한 창의성의 다수준 분석에서 집단 창의성과 개인 창의성이 관계가 없는 것으로 나타나 가설 3도 기각되었다. 결론에서 연구결과에 대한 의의 및 시사점을 논의하였다.

Whether and How Network Structure Shapes the Value of Firm Capabilities?

This study examines how firm performance is driven jointly by individual firm-specific capabilities and the characteristics of networks in which firms are embedded. By using business groups in emerging economies as the organizational lens and adopting stochastic frontier estimation to measure firm capabilities, we find that the value of a firm’s capability is contingent upon the structure and the content of the intra-group network in which it is embedded. Specifically, we find that a dense intra-group network is likely to make innovative capability more valuable, although this effect varies across different types of network ties. While a dense network of intra-group buyer-supplier ties and equity ties enhances the value of innovative capability, a dense network of intra-group directorship ties does not influence the efficacy of a firm’s innovative capability.

The Tatmadaw Legacy and Beyond

The ongoing democratisation process in Myanmar represents one of the most relevant ‘stress tests’ for the democratic transition theory. This theory actually considers stateness as a prerequisite for democracy; and, consequently, concentrates mainly on the mode of progression of the state from dictatorship to representative government. We assume, on the contrary, that, particularly after 1989, the very idea of stateness is being questioned more and more (and not only in developing countries). This paper does not intend to add original data relative to Myanmar’s recent history. It rather aims to shed some new light on Myanmar’s democratisation process, approaching the issue as a specific case-study of democratic transition affected by clustered sovereignty. The introduction will attempt to explain the main methodological prerequisites of the paper. The article will then analyse the three main risk factors affecting the democratisation process in Myanmar: (1) the (in)ability to neutralise the autonomous centres of power equipped with means of coercion and return them to a shared political sphere; (2) the (in)ability to integrate different intra-group networks in the shared political sphere; (3) the (in)ability to eliminate or at least reduce the social inequalities, detaching them from the shared political sphere.

Seeking Urbanity or Seeking Diversity? Middle-class family households in a mixed neighbourhood in Germany

Within the prominent debate on disaffiliation and coping strategies of middle-class households in mixed neighbourhoods, the paper aims to shed light on a less researched question: what are the characteristics of middle-class households that form inter-ethnic and inter-social networks in mixed communities in contrast to those that do not? Based on exploratory research in a German inner-city neighbourhood, we focus on differentiations within the middle class. We identify two most contrasting groups as regards social boundary crossing or social closure and analyse their different preferences, values and routines. Neighbourhood foci such as parent initiatives concerning childcare or schooling have a reinforcing role for either intra-group networks or boundary-crossing interactions. The findings are based on an analysis of narratives, daily routines and social networks of middle-class family households in a gentrifying neighbourhood.

Compliance Dynamics Within a Friendship Network II: Structural Positions Used to Garner Social Support

Social networks play a critical role in people's responses to influence attempts, determining whether a person seeks the support of others as an alternative to compliance or as a way to cope with being the target of an influence attempt. In 2 experiments (N = 458 and N = 105), sociograms were used to represent social relationships and to investigate the social network member who would be sought for social support after an influence attempt. Results showed that targets were seen as likely to seek social support in more threatening situations and from more useful (e.g., powerful, connected) network members. Differences found in the 2 experiments appear to represent differences between intergroup and intragroup networks.

Social Networks and Job Performance: The Interaction Effect of Structure Properties

This study uses data from 173 respondents in 29 groups to provide evidence that when members locate in peripheral position in intragroup network, leader-member-tie is more positively associated with job performance. The relationship is even stronger for peripheral members in advice network.

Whether and how: Effects of international joint ventures on local innovation in an emerging economy

Business groups in emerging economies frequently use international joint ventures (IJV) as a channel for knowledge acquisition and technology advancement. While IJVs provide a business group with access to new technology, how successful a group is in exploiting that new knowledge for innovative purposes depends on the groups’ ability to recombine new knowledge with its existing pool of knowledge and resources. The more resources a group spends in forming IJVs with foreign partners, the less resources the group has in developing and sustaining organizational mechanisms that facilitate integration of existing ideas and resources. Following this theoretical duality, we view the IJV–innovation relationship not as an “either–or” question, but as a question of whether and how. Specifically, viewing business groups as networks of loosely coupled firms, we examine how intra-group network structure and evolving institutional environment moderates the IJV–patenting relationship in Taiwan between 1981 and 1998.

DO INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES FOSTER OR INHIBIT INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES IN EMERGING ECONOMIES?

Using a sample of 267 business groups that operated in Taiwan between 1981 and 1998, this study examines the effect of international joint ventures (IJVs) on the innovative performance of business groups in an emerging economy. Contrary to received wisdom, we find a systematic negative impact of IJV on groups' innovativeness, measured by number of patent applications, both new invention patent and process patent. This relationship between IJV and group innovativeness also varies across business groups with different strategic orientation (measured by group-level product and geographic diversification) and internal structure (such as, intra-group network density). Specifically, the negative effects of IJV on group innovativeness intensify with group-level product diversification while the negative effects of IJV decline with group-level geographic diversification and business density. The results are robust to both parametric as well non-parametric regression techniques.