We live in an increasingly interdependent world - socially, emotionally, economically, physically, environmentally, biologically and evolutionarily. As a result of interdependence, we need relationships to achieve our desired outcomes, especially in the context of growing complexity. However, relationships are at risk around the world due to the rise of remote work, technologically mediated communication, economic inequality, and political polarization. In this RC Cafe, we focus on two approaches - Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Relational Coordination Analytics (RCA) - that offer theories and methods for exploring relational challenges and solutions.
Despite serving as primary lenses through which relational analytics are explored, the fields of social networks and relational coordination rarely intersect (Khosla, et al, 2016; Gittell & Ali, 2021; Burns, Nembhard & Shortell, 2022; Soltis et al., 2023; Bannya et al., 2023). Network research has pushed consideration of how stakeholders are connected and what flows between them, including knowledge, resources, and more (Kilduff & Tsai, 2003; Grandori & Soda, 1995; Alter & Hage, 1993). While much focus in SNA has been on networks among individuals, Krackhardt (2024) argues there is additional potential for organizational scholars to focus on organizational networks or O-networks - networks between organizational roles - to achieve insights into organizational design (e.g. Kilduff & Brass, 2010). Relational coordination focuses on organizational networks within and between organizations (e.g., Gittell, 2002; Gittell & Weiss, 2004; Caldwell, Roehrich & George, 2017), thus serving as a complement to SNA scholarship. The combination of relational coordination (Gittell, 2002; Gittell et al., 2010) and social networks (Borgatti et al., 2009; Borgatti, 2006; Brass, 1981) has the potential to better describe, assess, and improve the coordination of work in complex organizational systems. Together, they offer the potential to better understand multilevel relational dynamics in organizations.
The aim of this Cafe is to create an approach to relational analytics that jointly employs the theories and methods related to social networks and relational coordination. We will accomplish this goal by bringing leading scholars in each field together to interact with each other and with other academics and practitioners with an interest in the role of relationships in organizations.
Invited Panelists
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References
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