Tesis doctoral de Jordi Ross Comas
#titulo: learning links: social networks and organizational learning #resumen: this dissertation is a theoretical and methodological exploration of the intertwined evolutionary processes of network dynamics and learning processes. This dissertation begins with a broad theoretical chapter, «opening two black boxes,» which provides a framework to open the twin black boxes of learning and networks and revealing that these two phenomena, traditionally seen as structure (networks) and agency (learning), actually jointly interact. Learning includes processes in which the members of an organization: 1) acquire information about the organization and its environment; 2) turn that information into various kinds of knowledge, and 3) perform based on the knowledge at the individual and collective level, in short, learning, a social process, should be powerfully shaped by the interpersonal networks of information and influence that permeate any organization. This theoretical synthesis is needed because of the need for more attention to social structure in organizational learning research and more attention to what actors do in social network analysis. A detailed study of the longitudinal networks and learning processes of four small organizations founded by students as part of a management class provides the setting for researching the questions that emerge from the theoretical framework. Chapter 2, «brokerage and/or closure», examines the impact of social capital, measured as individual network variables, on the development and quality of ideas (knowledge creation). Results supported the idea that network position did not matter for generating ideas, but it did matter for radical ideas. However, individual agency does matter: later network position was more strongly affected by having ideas than by initial network position. Chapter 3, «the middle of the middle, explores the role of subgroups and their relative connectedness on idea creation and retention. The interpersonal network of an organization is not a «fiat» map. The areas of greater local density are the clusters of colleagues, friends, or allies who make up the «bumpy» social terrain of any organization. This bumpiness, or topology, will make a difference for two organizational learning processes: knowledge creation and retention. I found that when there are more non-overlapping subgroups that are not overly connected, exploratory potential is more realized; on the other hand, the two companies with more exploitation-receptive networks tended towards exploitative learning. Chapter 4, «juggling exploration and exploitation with networks», argues that there is a network constraint on pursuing both exploration and exploitation. Looking at adaptation as a culmination of all three learning processes (knowledge creation, retention, and transfer), i found that dynamic networks are associated with ambidexterity in pursuing exploration and exploitation. This is network «rewiring», and it affects adaptation. A final conclusion discusses the findings and limitations of this data. I propose further research into the dynamic role of brokers and the value of integrating types of knowledge into a network analysis of learning.
Datos académicos de la tesis doctoral «Learning links: social networks and organizational learning«
- Título de la tesis: Learning links: social networks and organizational learning
- Autor: Jordi Ross Comas
- Universidad: Navarra
- Fecha de lectura de la tesis: 25/09/2007
Dirección y tribunal
- Director de la tesis
- Sandra Sieber
- Tribunal
- Presidente del tribunal: rafael Andreu
- silviya Svejenova nedeva (vocal)
- José Luis Molina (vocal)
- jaume Guia (vocal)