The interest and concern on social network interorganization and intraorganization of employees have been increasing highly. The reason for increasing concern on the organization of social network of their employees is the formation of the core of so...
The interest and concern on social network interorganization and intraorganization of employees have been increasing highly. The reason for increasing concern on the organization of social network of their employees is the formation of the core of social capital of the company. Social capital can provide an individual with useful information about opportunities and choices otherwise not available, may exert influence on the agents who play a critical role in decisions, and may be conceived by the organization or its agents as certifications of the individual''s social credentials.
The belief on social network of employees giving advantages on jobs and careers has been generally accepted but the experimental research has not been widely examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study is as follows. First, to study whether the social network of characteristics such as size, range, and strength may affect on the job effectiveness(i.e., information access, job performance, and innovative behavior) and career utility(i.e., employability and promotability). Second, to investigate whether the gender may moderate between social networks, and job effectiveness and career utilities. Third, to divide the organization into two industrial groups, IT group and non-IT group, and investigate whether the industrial groups may moderate between social networks and job effectiveness and career utilities. Finally, as the result of this study, I will suggest the method of choice for strategic social network.
To achieve purpose of the research, data were collected in large Korean companies with more than 500 employees. In order to test the hypotheses, 402 samples were restricted to middle managers and analyzed with multiple regression analysis.
Research findings can be summarized as follows:
First, network size, range, and strength(intimacy) of information network and network size and strength(frequency) of expressive network had effects on information access.
Second, network characteristics affecting job performance were network range and strength(intimacy) of information network.
Third, network size, range, and strength(intimacy) of information network had effects on innovative behaviors.
Fourth, network characteristics affecting employability were network size and strength(intimacy) of information network.
Fifth, network range and strength(intimacy) of information network and network strength(frequency) of expressive network had effects on promotability.
Sixth, it was analyzed whether gender moderates the relationship between social network and job effectiveness(i.e., information access, job performance, and innovative behavior). Of the six hypotheses, gender moderated one relationship between expressive network and information access. Expressive network of male managers had no effects on information access while that of female managers had effects on them.
Seventh, it was investigated that gender can be a moderating variable between social network characteristics and career utilities (i.e., employability and promotability). Network size, range, and strength(intimacy) of information network had shown the differences in employability while network range and strength(frequency) of information network, and network strength(intimacy) of expressive network had shown the differences in promotabiliy. The relationship of strength(intimacy) of information network had much more effect for female than male managers. This findings support that the female have to show their human capital through strong ties rather than weak ties because they are minority within the organization.
Eighth, it was examined whether industries moderate the relationship between social network and job effectiveness(i.e., information access, job performance, and innovative behavior). Of the six hypotheses, industries moderated the relationship. Network size of information network in IT group had effects on job effectiveness(i.e., information access, job performance, and innovative behavior) but non-IT group had no effects on them. In addition, network strength(intimacy) of expressive network had positive effects in non-IT group and negative effects in IT group on job effectiveness.
Ninth, it was investigated whether industries can moderate between social network and career utilities. As a result, it did not moderate the relationship.
The implication of this research may be summarized as follows. First, the effect of social networks has been examined on job effectiveness and career utilities. Second, on the issue of network measurement, the research suggested the alternative measurement method. Third, this research has shown that having strong ties had more advantages than weak ties in Korea. Lastly, it was analyzed that the gender and industries had moderated between social networks, and job effectiveness and career utilities.