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Catching Fire: Institutional Interdependencies in Union‐Facilitated Knowledge Diffusion

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  • John E. McCarthy

Abstract

I find that school union representatives’ ‘boundary spanning’ communications throughout the school district predict the diffusion of knowledge between schools. Hence, my data reveal school union representatives as critical conduits for improvement‐related knowledge transfer and innovation. Yet, I also find that these external networks interact strongly with the level of workforce participation characterizing each school: The effects of external networks on internal knowledge diffusion are considerably stronger in more participative schools compared to less participative schools. This research contributes to industrial relations scholarship by demonstrating how union‐related institutions can foster unique social structures that directly strengthen innovation‐related capabilities, as well as how the efficacy of these networks depends on managerial norms at different areas of the organization. This study is also of timely practical relevance at a time when labour unions are increasingly painted as obstacles to, rather than potential facilitators of, improvement and innovation.

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  • John E. McCarthy, 2019. "Catching Fire: Institutional Interdependencies in Union‐Facilitated Knowledge Diffusion," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 57(1), pages 182-201, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:57:y:2019:i:1:p:182-201
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12417
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John E. McCarthy, 2021. "Labor‐Management Partnerships' Effects On Unionists' Interaction Networks: Evidence From Us Public Schools," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 277-306, July.

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