Perceived structural holes and power in organizations
Open Access
- Author:
- Li, Zhi
- Graduate Program:
- Sociology
- Degree:
- Master of Arts
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- October 24, 2019
- Committee Members:
- Daniel Joseph Della Posta, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Diane Helen Felmlee, Committee Member
Derek Allen Kreager, Committee Member
Jennifer Lynne Van Hook, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Structural holes
Cognitive networks
Perceived structural holes
“Actual” structural holes
Reputational Power
Structural holes
Cognitive networks
Perceived structural holes
“Actual” structural holes
Reputational Power - Abstract:
- Combining Burt’s research on structural holes and others’ notion of cognitive networks, I propose the concept of perceived structural holes. I assert that people’s perception of a person’s structural holes is a source of power in organizations and different versions of structural holes (egos’ “actual” structural holes, egos’ self-perceived structural holes, and observers’ perception of egos’ structural holes) imply different theoretical mechanisms. To explore this claim, the data collected in a small firm are studied. The results show that: (1) Egos’ self-perceived structural holes are larger than observers’ perception of egos’ structural holes; (2) Egos’ “actual” structural holes are positively related to egos’ self-perceived structural holes and observers’ perception of egos’ structural holes; (3) Egos’ “actual” structural holes are positively related to egos’ reputational power in the friendship networks, but not in the advice networks, and the positive effect in the friendship networks is partly explained by observers’ perception of egos’ structural holes; (4) It is observers’ perception of egos’ structural holes rather than egos’ self-perceived structural holes that influences reputational power. Later research should pay more attention to how people, not only egos but also observers, strategically represent and perceive structural holes and other network characteristics to gain power.