The paper’s aim is twofold: to display how the application of social network analysis techniques to observational data provides researchers with a unique set of data to make sense of the dynamics of organizational settings; to contribute to knowledge on group design, self-managing teams, and processes of technology diffusion. Design/Methodology/Approach The paper focuses on the findings of qualitative research, recently published, that we conducted in a major Italian clothing company producing garments for the top-end market. We employed observations, ethnographic interviews and analysis of documents for data collection. We used coding procedures and social network analysis techniques to analyse data. Findings The long presence in the field allowed us to build two grounded theories. One deals with the process of CAD technology diffusion into a small group and it connects a number of variables usually studied separately in the literature. The second accounts for the enactment of spontaneous self-managing practices in a group formally designed as a manager-led team. Research limitation/implications The grounded theories are formulated for specific social settings and future research could benefit from replications in different contexts to capture other phenomena leading to different categories to be integrated into the theories or to corroborate them. Originality/value We derived enacted network data from the direct and prolonged observation of actors as opposed to self-reported network data. This allowed us to clarify the actual content and the quality of the interactions among actors, and to move beyond their quantification, thus enhancing the comprehension of the impact of network relationships upon organizational behaviour.
F. Bertolotti, M.R. Tagliaventi (2007). Discovering complex interdependencies in organizational settings: The role of social network analysis in qualitative research. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN ORGANIZATIONS AND MANAGEMENT, 2, 43-61.
Discovering complex interdependencies in organizational settings: The role of social network analysis in qualitative research
TAGLIAVENTI, MARIA RITA
2007
Abstract
The paper’s aim is twofold: to display how the application of social network analysis techniques to observational data provides researchers with a unique set of data to make sense of the dynamics of organizational settings; to contribute to knowledge on group design, self-managing teams, and processes of technology diffusion. Design/Methodology/Approach The paper focuses on the findings of qualitative research, recently published, that we conducted in a major Italian clothing company producing garments for the top-end market. We employed observations, ethnographic interviews and analysis of documents for data collection. We used coding procedures and social network analysis techniques to analyse data. Findings The long presence in the field allowed us to build two grounded theories. One deals with the process of CAD technology diffusion into a small group and it connects a number of variables usually studied separately in the literature. The second accounts for the enactment of spontaneous self-managing practices in a group formally designed as a manager-led team. Research limitation/implications The grounded theories are formulated for specific social settings and future research could benefit from replications in different contexts to capture other phenomena leading to different categories to be integrated into the theories or to corroborate them. Originality/value We derived enacted network data from the direct and prolonged observation of actors as opposed to self-reported network data. This allowed us to clarify the actual content and the quality of the interactions among actors, and to move beyond their quantification, thus enhancing the comprehension of the impact of network relationships upon organizational behaviour.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.