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The Social Network Ties of Group Leaders: Implications for Group Performance and Leader Reputation

Author

Listed:
  • Ajay Mehra

    (Department of Management, University of Cincinnati, 509 Lindner Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221--0165)

  • Andrea L. Dixon

    (Department of Marketing, University of Cincinnati, 432 Lindner Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221--0145)

  • Daniel J. Brass

    (Gatton College of Business and Economics, University of Kentucky, Business and Economics Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40506--0034)

  • Bruce Robertson

    (Department of Marketing, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, California 94132)

Abstract

This paper uses data from the sales division of a financial services firm to investigate how a leader's centrality in external and internal social networks is related to the objective performance of the leader's group, and to the leader's personal reputation for leadership among subordinates, peers, and supervisors. External social network ties were based on the friendship ties among all 88 of the division's sales group leaders and the 10 high-ranking supervisors to whom they reported. Internal social network ties consisted of 28 separate networks, each representing the set of friendship relations among all members of a given sales group. Objective group performance data came directly from company records. Data on each group leader's personal reputation for leadership was based on the perceptions of three different constituencies: subordinates, peers, and supervisors. Results revealed that leaders' centrality in external and internal friendship networks was related both to objective measures of group performance and to their reputation for leadership among different organizational constituencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ajay Mehra & Andrea L. Dixon & Daniel J. Brass & Bruce Robertson, 2006. "The Social Network Ties of Group Leaders: Implications for Group Performance and Leader Reputation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 64-79, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:17:y:2006:i:1:p:64-79
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1050.0158
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anil K. Gupta & Vijay Govindarajan, 2000. "Knowledge flows within multinational corporations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 473-496, April.
    2. Harold Guetzkow & Herbert A. Simon, 1955. "The Impact of Certain Communication Nets Upon Organization and Performance in Task-Oriented Groups," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 1(3-4), pages 233-250, 04-07.
    3. Martin Gargiulo & Mario Benassi, 2000. "Trapped in Your Own Net? Network Cohesion, Structural Holes, and the Adaptation of Social Capital," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(2), pages 183-196, April.
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