Homophilic relations in a formal organization

This paper explores the impact of homophily in formal and social networks within a hierarchical organization. Specifically, it examines how employees form relationships within formal work relations, including the giving and receiving of work orders and help requests, as well as informal social ties. Through Social Network Analysis (SNA), the study identifies the extent to which homophilic tendencies—such as similar roles, gender, race, and other personal characteristics—shape these networks. The innovation of this research lies in comparing homophily across both formal and social networks, using advanced statistical techniques like Moran’s I and Geary’s C to quantify the spatial autocorrelation of roles within the networks. The study concludes that while homophily can enhance communication and collaboration among similar individuals, it also risks creating exclusive networks that limit diversity of ideas and perspectives. The findings suggest that organizations with more rigid hierarchies may be more susceptible to these biases, and strategies to diversify help-seeking networks are recommended to improve organizational decision-making and innovation.