Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons^™

Organizational Effectiveness In Higher Education: Faculty Informal Structure As Social Capital, Jennifer Dose

Business Educator Scholarship

Higher education institutions encounter complex external environments, requiring increasing responsiveness and innovation. Research on social capital has demonstrated that highly connected employee relational networks are more creative, effective, and exhibit higher member satisfaction. The present study examines one college to demonstrate how social network analysis can be used to assess the informal relational networks of faculty members within a higher education institution. Characteristics of the faculty social network are described and mapped. The relationship between aspects of individuals’ network linkages, governance participation, and their organizational commitment, satisfaction, and trust are assessed. Recommendations for building effective organizational networks, particularly through expanding …