ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author presents a social systems theory perspective on agency and a methodological approach to study the distribution of agency in networks of communication episodes. It then shows node- and network-level measures can be used to create a clear picture of the distribution of decision rights in an organization. The analysis of longitudinal data, in turn, can provide valuable insights into the relationship between agency and a range of variables. In particular, the chapter presents a mathematical approach to the distribution of agency in organizations as networks of communication events and episodes. An empirical example of agency distributed in meeting minutes of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) illustrates the possibilities and opportunities of this approach. Finally, the chapter discusses the implications of my perspective on agency for organizational research and practice.
