Social Network Perspective Research Articles

Collective friend group reactions to organizational change: A field theory approach

SummaryThis paper integrates field theory with a social network perspective to show that perceptions of the quality of the organization's change communication become collectively shared in friend groups, and that these collective perceptions positively influence collective job performance in those friend groups. Findings from two studies show that these collective perceptions influence collective performance both directly and by interacting with change history in friend groups. The results extend theory by highlighting the importance of friendships as a mechanism for change recipient reactions becoming collectively shared. The findings further suggest that collective histories and communication perceptions play a vital role in collective job performance during change. Practical implications and directions for future research are also discussed.

Evolution Modes of Chili Pepper Industry Clusters under the Perspective of Social Network—An Example from Xinfu District, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province

This study evaluates the progression and influencing factors of the chili pepper industry cluster in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province from 2006 to 2020 from a social network standpoint, using both theoretical and empirical methods as well as incorporating field survey data. The findings reveal the following facts: (1) the chili pepper industry cluster underwent a steady evolution in the social network over the course of 15 years, evidenced by an increase in the network clustering coefficient from 0.157 to 0.470. The network scale expanded from 9 to 76 entities; thus it basically achieved maturity; (2) the development modes of the chili pepper industry cluster in Xinfu District can be summarized as follows: an “embryonic stage” (2006–2010), an “initial stage” (2011–2015), and a “developmental stage” (2016–2020), which are marked by a broker-centered industry mode during the embryonic stage, a cooperatives-centered industry mode during the initial stage, and a chili pepper association- and leading enterprise-centered industry mode during the developmental stage; (3) the policies, fund, market, labor, and external capital have a significant impact on the development of the chili industry cluster in the Xinfu District. During the embryonic stage, the primary influencing factors are fund (0.326) and market (0.309). During the initial stage, the primary influencing factors are market (0.162) and external capital (0.135). During the developmental stage, the primary influencing factors are policy (0.232) and market (0.232), with technology (−0.102) serving as a limiting factor. It is crucial to take into account natural resource endowment and industry mode features, foster technological advancement, and spur social capital involvement in developing chili pepper industry clusters. The government must create a supportive external environment for the chili pepper industry cluster’s growth to establish a solid foundation for the high-quality advancement of the agricultural industry cluster. The insights derived from this study can serve as a reference and source of inspiration for the growth of other vegetable industry clusters in China.

Addressing Other Challenges migrants’ Children Face in Mexico: Coping with Adverse Realities and Circumstances

ABSTRACT Migrants’ children face challenges when returning to their parent’s home country, which is usually unfamiliar to them. This qualitative study explores this phenomenon to understand more about the experiences of returnee children regarding their social-educational (re)integration and adaptation, the challenges they faced, and the mechanisms they have developed to overcome them. Results are discussed from the perspective of acculturative stress and social networks, identifying the struggle that returnees have to adapt and acculturate to their new home because of the lack of competence in the Spanish language and the consequences of the discrimination they suffer in the social environment, namely school and in their parents’ hometowns. However, results also shed light on how returnees create social networks with classmates and family members who help them overcome these challenges, fears, and feelings of alienation.

소셜 및 베이지안 네트워크 관점의 공급망 리스크 분석

As firms are exposed to various risks, supply network risk management has become important. Previous studies have conducted supply network risk research from various perspectives, particularly due to the severity of supply disruption to buying firms. While the existing studies have identified those suppliers based on centrality measures of their positions in the supply network mostly from the social network perspective, there was also a limitation in quantitatively assessing the suppliers’ disruption risk in the network. Therefore, this study intended to theoretically expand and develop the study on the supply network risk from the existing social network perspective by applying the Bayesian network analysis. So we used the Bayesian network analysis to quantitatively assess the suppliers’ disruption risk in the supply network and measure their risk impact on the focal firm. Through it, we identified the network properties of the critical suppliers that the focal firm should pay attention to for its effective supply network risk management and suggested related insights.

Solidarity or Solitude? Correlates of Incarceration and the Peer Networks of Imprisoned Women

Connecting feminist perspectives to a re-emergent literature on prison society, this study uses a social network perspective to understand the informal social organization of incarcerated women. Data came from the Women’s Prison Inmate Network Study, specifically from residents within two of three sampled units (N = 152). Exponential random graph models estimate how self-report and administrative measures predict friendship, paying specific attention to how correlates of incarceration shape peer tie formation. Measures of mental illness, substance misuse, and childhood victimization were associated with sending ties to peers, though these ties were less likely to be reciprocated. In conclusion, incarcerated women with histories of traumatic life events and difficulties may seek out peer support while not providing the same. Social network analysis is an important tool to further understand the experience of women in prison as it considers the social structures and individual perspectives of imprisoned individuals.

Examining the Patent Landscape of E-Fuel Technology

Although the end of combustion engine vehicles seems inevitable under a new climate target for 2030, a complete ban on the combustion engine would be counterproductive. E-fuels, which are produced using renewable electricity from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, could act as a possible large-scale solution for achieving climate-neutral mobility, as they allow us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while leveraging the existing energy infrastructure. Against such a background, it is critical to examine how the related technological landscape is constructed and might affect the subsequent knowledge generation. By adopting a social-network perspective, the aim of this study is to investigate the degree of technological knowledge relatedness of e-fuel technology using patent data. This is accomplished by analyzing the influence of individual knowledge areas and categorizing them into a matrix model, with each quadrant playing a unique role. The main findings show that the patent landscape is dominated by applications from the private sector, and the main knowledge base is centered around chemical engineering and production techniques for liquid hydrocarbon mixture. Furthermore, the analyzed knowledge flows are dominated by intra-technology knowledge flows, thereby being less prone to convergent technology evolution. In particular, the knowledge areas C10L 01 and C10J 03 demonstrated a high influencer role. The findings can also support R&D advisors and decision makers in policy development in reducing their efforts required for conducting technical intelligence activities and determining adequate policies for R&D portfolio management.

Study on Key Drivers and Collaborative Management Strategies for Construction and Demolition Waste Utilization in New Urban District Development: From a Social Network Perspective.

Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) during new district development shows the characteristics of large quantity, concentrated distribution, and long duration on both supply and demand sides. The construction of the new district has objective conditions to promote the scale development of recycling industries and achieve green development through local digestion, so the recycling indicators for the new district proposed by the government are generally higher than those of other regions. However, many new districts have yet to systematically identify key drivers (KDs) of recycling and form win-win governance mechanisms with multiple government and market subjects, resulting in uncontrolled accumulation or high-cost discard of C&DW. This paper identifies 29 recycling drivers and 8 governing subjects through literature research and a field study of five national new districts in China. Then, a 2-mode social network and two 1-mode social networks are constructed to analyze the complex interactions between drivers and governing subjects, taking Nanjing Jiangbei New District as an example. The results of the study show that most of the drivers need at least 2 governance subjects to promote together, which indicates that it is necessary to build a collaborative governance mechanism of multiple subjects. This study provides a structured framework to analyze the drivers of recycling in new district development and the collaborative governance of multiple subjects, which can provide a basis for promoting efficient recycling of new district development.

A Social Resources Perspective of Employee Innovative Behavior and Outcomes: A Moderated Mediation Model

Employee innovation is becoming increasingly important when organizations strive for sustainable competitive advantage. Different from previous research on employee innovation and relational/structural perspectives of social networks, the present study is the first attempt to empirically examine how social resources per se influence employee innovation. Drawing on social-resources theory, this study proposes that social resources for innovation boost employee innovation, which is strengthened by supervisor support. By conducting a field survey on 154 employees in a high-tech company and collecting the archival data of their innovative outputs, we found that employees who can access and mobilize more social resources demonstrate more innovative behavior and subsequently achieve better outputs, such as patents and invention disclosures. Supervisor support amplifies social resources’ effects on employee innovative behavior and innovative outcomes. This study contributes to the literature on social networks and employee innovation by introducing a new theoretical perspective. Practically, it also adds new insights to boost innovation performance from a social-resources approach.

Correction: The antecedents and consequences of social interactions in firm-sponsored community: a social network perspective

Correction: The antecedents and consequences of social interactions in firm-sponsored community: a social network perspective

A social network perspective on peer relationship formation of medical undergraduates within large-scale learning communities

ABSTRACT Introduction Students’ formal networks, which are formed by a formal curriculum design, such as formally organized study groups within learning communities (LCs), may benefit students’ interactions and learning. It is unclear how large-scale LCs contribute to the formation of different informal peer relationships, which refers to student self-organized out-of-class relationships. Two mechanisms can explain relationship formation in LCs. Propinquity within formal networks and homophily of students’ characteristics (nationality, sex, academic performance) may promote students’ peer relationships. This study explores to what extent the formation of students’ informal networks was determined by their formal networks (LCs) while controlling for students’ characteristics and which mechanisms play an important role. Methods With online surveys, data were collected about five informal networks (help-seeking, collaboration, information sharing, friendship, and learn-from) from 69 first- and 51 second- bachelor year medical students (2890 relationships). Students were divided into four LCs in the formal curriculum. We compared students’ five informal network structures between first- and second-year students, domestic and international students, within and between formal networks. Besides, we used Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) Regression Analysis in Ucinet to investigate the associations between students’ informal and formal networks (LCs) and students’ characteristics. Results Propinquity (in the same LC) plays a role since students have more informal connections within LCs than between LCs. Furthermore, it seems to play a greater role for second-year students than for first-year students. Homophily of nationality is important in informal networking since students are more likely to connect with others of similar nationalities. Conclusion Students become more connected within the LC when they remain in the same LC for a longer period. Formal networks enhance the students’ informal interactions within LCs but seem to restrict the interactions among students from other LCs. International students need support in order to integrate with domestic students in LCs.

The co-varying relationship between children and adolescents’ peer networks and bullying-related behaviors from the perspective of social networks

The co-varying relationship between children and adolescents’ peer networks and bullying-related behaviors from the perspective of social networks

The effect of team leaders' Simmelian brokerage on team cooperation from the social network perspective

The effect of team leaders' Simmelian brokerage on team cooperation from the social network perspective

Examining the impact of top-management teams on performance measurement system design: a social network perspective

Examining the impact of top-management teams on performance measurement system design: a social network perspective

Examining the impact of top-management teams on performance measurement system design: a social network perspective

Examining the impact of top-management teams on performance measurement system design: a social network perspective

Mangrove management in Sri Lanka and stakeholder collaboration: A social network perspective

Understanding the extent of collaboration among stakeholders is key to supporting mangrove management. Despite the existence of robust policies, collaboration among stakeholders of mangrove co-management remains largely unexplored in Sri Lanka. This was partly due to the civil war, natural disasters, and other socio-economic changes over the past 30 years. Our study aimed to identify the collaboration between stakeholders of mangrove management and their perceptions regarding mangrove co-management in Sri Lanka using social network analysis and content analysis. Surveys were conducted in all five coastal provinces of Sri Lanka. Stakeholders included in the study were from government departments, non-governmental organizations, and private institutes. Our results showed that there were differences between coastal provinces in the mangrove management networks, specifically in the number of stakeholders involved and their degree of collaboration. Some important stakeholders (for example the Land Use and Policy Planning Department) were excluded from the social networks in certain provinces (Eastern and Western provinces). There were various issues hampering effective mangrove management such as inefficient communication, inconsistencies between policies, and insufficient financial capacity of government stakeholders responsible for policy implementation. According to the stakeholders in our study, providing mangrove management initiatives with long-term collaboration, post-care, continuous monitoring, and funding may help to overcome these challenges. Additionally, we suggest the establishment of a common platform to coordinate stakeholders. We further encourage increasing the participation of academics, researchers, and students from national universities in the mangrove co-management of Sri Lanka. Insights from this island-wide survey can be adapted to mangrove and other natural resource management trajectories in other countries as well.

AGING AND THE SOCIAL BRAIN: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS

Abstract Research suggests social connectedness reduces dementia risk and helps older adults with neuropathology maintain cognitive functionality and quality of life. However, little is known about the specific underlying social and biological mechanisms. This presentation provides an overview of three promising pathways through social bridging (i.e., cognitive enrichment through expansive social networks), social bonding (i.e., neuroendocrine benefits of integration in cohesive social networks), and social stress (i.e., HPA axis dysregulation resulting from social losses, role exits, and dysfunction or strain in relationships). It discusses how personal social network methodology combined with tests of general and social cognitive function and/or biomarkers can identify specific etiological mechanisms. These insights can be leveraged to develop policies and programs that support brain health and cognitive function in older adults. This presentation sets the stage for the remainder of the symposium, which presents empirical findings examining these mechanisms from a social network perspective.

Social Capital and Job Search Behavior in the Services Industry: Online Social Networks Perspective

Although job seeker social capital is considered a fundamental determinant of job-finding ability, it has yet to be discovered which activities contribute to its formation in the online social networking environment. Therefore, this study aims to reveal how job-seekers use online social networks, which job-searching activities increase their social capital and consequently contribute to finding a job in the services sector. The analyzed data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 431 respondents. The resulting regression model identified two significant factors, namely the use of an online social network to directly contact a potential employer (p-value = 0.0017) and membership in Facebook professional groups in the area in which the respondent was looking for a job (p-value < 0.0001). The results confirmed that job-seekers who conduct both identified activities would have a 1.94 times bigger chance of finding a job. On the other hand, if they would not perform either of the activities, the probability of not finding a job would be 6.69 times higher. This study has several implications for human resource management theory and practice. First, it identifies job-seekers activities to find a job on online social networks and specifies the activities which lead to getting a job. Second, it enriches the Uses and Gratification theory by revealing that job-seekers prioritize the saturation of social needs over cognitive needs when searching for jobs on online social networking sites.

User Interactions in Online Travel Communities: A Social Network Perspective

Online travel communities (OTCs) enable users to interact and share travel information voluntarily. Extant research has primarily focused on the content generated through user interactions but neglected how user interactions are structured. This study employed exponential random graph models to examine the formation of user interactions and the outcomes of homophily in terms of network structure across levels (actor, dyad, triad, and network). A dataset of 2,926 posts and 25,854 replies involving 9,712 users in an OTC was used. Results reveal that users’ question initiating and replying ties in OTCs exhibit significant positive structural dependencies in terms of reciprocity, activity spread, generalized transitive closure, and multiple connectivity. Homophily serves as the basis of dyadic interactions and homophilous ties evolve after formation. The study advances hospitality and tourism network research and methodology by going beyond traditional dyadic user interactions, and provides insights into user interactions in OTCs from the social network perspective.

How do social network ties influence purchases in social commerce communities? A lens of attachment theory

PurposeThis study aims to address how to facilitate more community members making purchases in social commerce communities. The research is expected to shed new light on the underlying process by which individuals’ social networks influence their purchases in social commerce communities.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey and secondary archive data are presented to confirm all the hypotheses.FindingsCommunity members’ out-degree ties show a positive effect on their attachment to other members, as well as to the community. Community members’ attachment to the community has a positive influence on their purchases made in the e-commerce modules of social commerce communities and mediates the effect of their attachment to community members. The study establishes a theoretical framework to reveal how community members’ social networks influence their purchases in social commerce communities.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide new insights for managers and designers of new social commerce communities to inspire them to achieve their goal of keeping consumers making purchases in the e-commerce modules of social commerce communities.Originality/valueFirstly, this study draws on attachment theory to explain why community members make purchases in a social commerce community. Then, the study enriches the research on social network ties and attachment theory by initially integrating the social network perspective with attachment theory to examine the effects of social network ties on different types of attachment.

The role of colleges for advanced studies in Roma undergraduates’ adjustment to college in Hungary from a social network perspective

ABSTRACT Adapting to the expectations of educational institutions can be difficult for any students, but it is particularly difficult for disadvantaged, first-generation college students with a minority ethnic background. Our case study, employing a social network perspective, examines the role of small peer-communities in the academic adjustment of underrepresented minority students, namely Roma young people in Hungary. Using a social network approach, the study aims to evaluate what the exact role of ‘colleges for advanced studies’ communities is in the everyday life of Roma students, characteristically first-generation intellectuals, and how such communities contribute to academic adjustment. Furthermore, this study examines the main dilemmas concerning the operation of such colleges for advanced studies. The results show that institutions with fewer students and those operating in separate buildings (spatial segregation) provide an opportunity for much stronger connections and more interactions for the students. However, the analysis also showed that the predominance of RCASN ties may hinder the formation of host connections, and this way hampers the stronger bonding to the university.