ABSTRACT
Each tie defines a different network, and while some ties are often related, ties are often assumed to function differently. Not all ties are considered to have positive outcomes; for instance, network research is often used to map the flow of disease or terrorist networks. Therefore, some network research focuses on how to improve the flow of the resource through the network, such as adoption of a new accounting information system, or how to disrupt the flow of resources in the network,
1 INTRODUCTION
There has been a general shift in management research over the past decade towards more relational theories of organizations that view actions and actors not as independent, autonomous agents, but as embedded within socio-technical systems. In contrast to theories that examine individuals based on their attributes, such as gender, age, education, or occupation, social network perspectives focus on how the relationships between entities, such as individuals, functional units, or organizations, influence interactions and outcomes. The concept of a “network” is broad and can be applied to a variety of phenomena where a set of relations is ascribed to an identified set of actors. What unites social network perspectives is the focus on the patterns and implications of the ties within a collective. For example, at the individual level ties facilitate the spread of information among network participants; enable the flow of both tangible and intangible resources among network members, and place constraints on each member’s behavior.
