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More Than Adopters: Competing Influences in the Interlocking Directorate

Author

Listed:
  • Brian L. Connelly

    (Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849)

  • Jonathan L. Johnson

    (Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701)

  • Laszlo Tihanyi

    (Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843)

  • Alan E. Ellstrand

    (Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701)

Abstract

This study explores the competing influences of different types of board interlocks on diffusion of a strategic initiative among a population of firms. We examine a broad social network of interlocking directors in U.S. firms over a period of 17 years and consider the likelihood that these firms will adopt a strategy of expansion into China. Results show that ties to adopters that unsuccessfully implement this strategy have a nearly equal and opposing effect on the likelihood of adoption as do ties to those that successfully implement the strategy. Ties to those that do not implement the strategy also have a suppressive effect on the likelihood of adoption. Furthermore, we examine a firm's position in the core-periphery structure of the interlocking directorate, finding that ties to adopters closer to the network core positively affect the likelihood of adoption. We discuss the implications of our study for social network analysis, governance, and internationalization research.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian L. Connelly & Jonathan L. Johnson & Laszlo Tihanyi & Alan E. Ellstrand, 2011. "More Than Adopters: Competing Influences in the Interlocking Directorate," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 688-703, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:22:y:2011:i:3:p:688-703
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1100.0555
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Lai, Jung-Ho & Chen, Li-Yu & Song, Sangcheol, 2019. "How outside directors’ human and social capital create value for corporate international investments," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 93-106.
    4. Yi Zhao & Jegoo Lee, 2023. "How does board interlock network matter for sustainability? A social learning approach to corporate environmental performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5889-5908, December.
    5. Ilya Okhmatovskiy & Robert J. David, 2012. "Setting Your Own Standards: Internal Corporate Governance Codes as a Response to Institutional Pressure," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(1), pages 155-176, February.
    6. Weizhang Sun & Xuan Li & Yanli Geng & Jinfeng Yang & Yifei Zhang, 2020. "Board interlocks and the diffusion of CSR reporting practices: The role of market development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3), pages 1333-1343, May.
    7. Niccolò Pisani & Javier Garcia‐Bernardo & Eelke Heemskerk, 2020. "Does it pay to be a multinational? A large‐sample, cross‐national replication assessing the multinationality–performance relationship," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(1), pages 152-172, January.
    8. H. Emre Yildiz & Sergey Morgulis-Yakushev & Ulf Holm & Mikael Eriksson, 2023. "A relational view on the performance effects of international diversification strategies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(1), pages 203-217, February.
    9. Zhuo (June) Cheng & Arun Rai & Feng Tian & Sean Xin Xu, 2021. "Social Learning in Information Technology Investment: The Role of Board Interlocks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(1), pages 547-576, January.
    10. Daisuke Uchida, 2021. "The consequence of differences: How heterogeneity in practice adaptations affects the diffusion process," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 209-230, March.
    11. Lychakov, Nikita, 2018. "Government-made bank distress: Industrialisation policies and the Russian financial crisis of 1899-1902," QUCEH Working Paper Series 2018-11, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.
    12. Khalil Jebran & Shihua Chen & Ruibin Zhang, 2022. "Board social capital and stock price crash risk," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 499-540, February.
    13. Serguei Saavedra & Luis J. Gilarranz & Rudolf P. Rohr & Michael Schnabel & Brian Uzzi & Jordi Bascompte, 2014. "Stock fluctuations are correlated and amplified across networks of interlocking directorates," Papers 1410.6646, arXiv.org.
    14. Henrich R. Greve & Marc-David L. Seidel, 2015. "The thin red line between success and failure: Path dependence in the diffusion of innovative production technologies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 475-496, April.
    15. Richard A. Bettis & Constance E. Helfat & J. Myles Shaver & Michael D. Howard & Michael C. Withers & Christina Matz Carnes & Amy J. Hillman, 2016. "Friends or strangers? It all depends on context: A replication and extension of Beckman, Haunschild, and Phillips (2004)," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(11), pages 2222-2234, November.
    16. Adams, Kweku & Attah-Boakye, Rexford & Yu, Honglan & Johansson, Jeaneth & Njoya, Eric Tchouamou, 2023. "Female board representation and coupled open innovation: Evidence from emerging market multinational enterprises," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    17. Emre Yildiz, H. & Morgulis-Yakushev, Sergey & Holm, Ulf & Eriksson, Mikael, 2022. "How do the source and context of experiential knowledge affect firms’ degree of internationalization?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 378-391.
    18. Vibha Gaba & Ann Terlaak, 2013. "Decomposing Uncertainty and Its Effects on Imitation in Firm Exit Decisions," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(6), pages 1847-1869, December.
    19. Brian L. Connelly & Qiang (John) Li & Wei Shi & Kang‐Bok Lee, 2020. "CEO dismissal: Consequences for the strategic risk taking of competitor CEOs," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(11), pages 2092-2125, November.
    20. Richard A. Benton, 2017. "The Decline of Social Entrenchment: Social Network Cohesion and Board Responsiveness to Shareholder Activism," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 262-282, April.
    21. Hansin Bilgili & Jonathan L. Johnson & Tsvetomira V. Bilgili & Alan E. Ellstrand, 2022. "Research on social relationships and processes governing the behaviors of members of the corporate elite: a review and bibliometric analysis," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(8), pages 2285-2339, November.
    22. Claire E. F. Wright, 2022. "Above board? Interlocking directorates and corporate contagion in 1980s Australia," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(3), pages 290-312, November.
    23. Shin, Donghoon & Seidle, Russell & Okhmatovskiy, Ilya, 2016. "Making the foreign familiar: The influence of top management team and board of directors characteristics on the adoption of foreign practices," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(6), pages 937-949.

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