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Organizational responses to uncertainty in the airline industry: Changes in patterns of communication networks

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  • Rubinstein, Saul
  • Martin-Rios, Carlos
  • Erhardt, Niclas
  • Hoffer Gittell, Jody
  • George, Varghese P.

Abstract

Changing environmental conditions introduce uncertainty into organizational operations, and airlines respond in various ways. Scholars traditionally explore responses to environmental uncertainty by drawing upon theories of communication networks, coordination, organizational resilience, and high reliability organizing. Yet, the research has competing communication predictions, which makes planning and designing organizational responses challenging, as the level and type of uncertainty changes over time. Research also does not address variations in responses across different groups of employees. Using longitudinal network data from the United Airlines operations tower in Newark Airport (USA), this research examines communication for the purpose of relational coordination in a dynamically adaptive organizational network. Results reveal different patterns of organizational communication as different employee groups (frontline, cross-functional boundary spanners, and managers) face varying conditions of uncertainty. This paper concludes with theoretical contributions and practical recommendations for managing complex communication networks to respond to dynamic conditions of uncertainty in the airline operations settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubinstein, Saul & Martin-Rios, Carlos & Erhardt, Niclas & Hoffer Gittell, Jody & George, Varghese P., 2016. "Organizational responses to uncertainty in the airline industry: Changes in patterns of communication networks," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 217-227.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:57:y:2016:i:c:p:217-227
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2016.07.021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Hatice Şengül & Dilem Marşan & Tuğçe Gün, 2019. "Survey assessment of organizational resiliency potential of a group of Seveso organizations in Turkey," Journal of Risk and Reliability, , vol. 233(3), pages 470-486, June.

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