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Social Networks and Group Effectiveness: The Role of External Network Ties

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Social Networks: Analysis and Case Studies

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Social Networks ((LNSN))

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Abstract

This research explores the relationship between group effectiveness and social networks. Through a 5-month ethnographic observation within three work groups employed in one of the major Italian fashion firm, we recorded all interactions occurring within the groups and outside the groups’ boundaries, thereby deriving the enacted communication network. Then, by means of structured interviews, we collected evaluations of group effectiveness. The evaluations given to the three groups differ and such difference cannot be traced back to the amount of communication network activated nor to the level of group members’ competencies, nor to their internal network structure. The field evidence suggests that the better evaluation received by one group relates to the quality of the relationships it sets up with external actors. This group assumes a coordinating role in the whole product development process: in particular, it spontaneously triggers, through reciprocal interactions, modalities of collaborative design, not formally required, which are rewarded by organizational members’ higher evaluations. The study has implications for social networks research by pointing to the importance to grasp the actual content of network relationships, thus going beyond the assessment of their presence and/or strength, in order to fully comprehend how network ties really influence organizational members’ perceptions and actions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Occasionally, three trainees worked in the three groups throughout the observation time length.

  2. 2.

    Group members were made aware of our identity as researchers interested in the study of the dynamics of work groups. From the beginning, we informed them that we would take notes on what was going on within the group. To reduce intrusion we worked with small note pads. At the end of the study, we briefed our informants about the main findings of our research.

  3. 3.

    Five items were drawn from Campion et al. [50] and Sparrowe et al. [16], while the remaining two were specifically developed for this study.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DISMI, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Fabiola Bertolotti

  2. Department of Management, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Maria Rita Tagliaventi

Authors
  1. Fabiola Bertolotti
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  2. Maria Rita Tagliaventi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabiola Bertolotti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Computer and Informatics Department, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Şule Gündüz-Öğüdücü

  2. Computer Engineering Department, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

    A. Şima Etaner-Uyar

Glossary

Adjacency matrix

Actor-by-actor matrix in which the cell aij reports the number of interactions activated by the actor i that involve the actor j, in relation to different properties of interactions.

Communication Network

Network involving all the relationships through which organizational actors share resources such as information, help, and guide related to the execution of their work.

Group effectiveness

Multidimensional construct that entails how: groups must produce outputs considered as adequate by those who receive, or who are in charge of evaluating; group members are able to work together in successive tasks; group members derive satisfaction from the execution of their tasks in the group.

Indegree

The number of times an actor is drawn into an interaction by others.

Outdegree

The number of times an actor initiated an interaction.

Work group

Bounded set of individuals, working interdependently towards a common goal.

Workplace Social Networks

Ongoing social relationships in which organizational actors are embedded in the workplace.

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Bertolotti, F., Tagliaventi, M.R. (2014). Social Networks and Group Effectiveness: The Role of External Network Ties. In: Gündüz-Öğüdücü, Ş., Etaner-Uyar, A. (eds) Social Networks: Analysis and Case Studies. Lecture Notes in Social Networks. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1797-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1797-2_5

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-1796-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-1797-2

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