The Structures of Interorganizational Communication Networks

• In Event: As Good as Gold: Top 4 Papers in Organizational Communication

Abstract

Communication networks are more nuanced than linear transmissions of messages between actors. Rather, they are multiplex, multidimensional, and should be classified based on differences in relations, not nodes. Following this logic, we advocate a recently proposed taxonomy of communication networks based on (1) communication flow, (2) affinity ties, (3) representational endorsements, and (4) semantic interpretations. Despite the existence of this taxonomy, with the exception of selective comparison of case studies, little is known about how endogenous structural mechanisms and multiplexity affect networks ties across each relation type amongst interorganizational networks. With a sample of 50 nonprofit organizations, we used binary and valued exponential random graph modeling to examine the structures of each of the four communication networks and the relationships among them. Our findings suggested that (1) affinity ties were only influenced by reciprocity, (2) representational ties were surprisingly local, defined by reciprocity and clustering, (3) semantic ties mirrored characteristics of small world networks in terms of closure, short path lengths, and high clustering coefficients, and (4) flow was mostly influenced by preferential attachment and represented a scale-free network. Finally, mutiplexity effects were only evident for flow, which was related to all three networks, especially affinity and representational ties. The results suggest node carrying capacity, diffusion, and physical proximity significantly influenced the structures of interorganizational communication networks. Implications for the taxonomy of communication networks were also drawn from the results.

Authors

• Andrew Nicholas Pilny, U of Illinois

• Michelle D. Shumate, Northwestern U

• Macarena Pena-y-Lillo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Yannick Atouba, Rutgers University

• Katherine R Cooper, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign