Social capital in high-performing service organizations

This study uses a configurational approach to explore what networking strategies professionals in high performing service organizations employ. Data was collected from 53 managers working for a global strategy consulting company and a Big Four auditing firm. Using a grounded theory approach, we define the variables characterizing a “networking configuration”. A consecutive cluster analysis is then conducted resulting in three distinctive configurations based on the networking strategy exhibited: “Game-players” are found to exhibit intensive networking behaviours upwards and downwards inside and outside the company, while “Trade-off makers” are adopting a networking configuration primarily focused on networking upwards. The third “Low key” cluster is predominantly focusing on networking with subordinates. Subsequent mean comparisons using Scheffe ranges for the three clusters on non-defining variables confirm significant differences between the networking clusters with respect to social identity measures and network characteristics. The results are discussed in terms of the characteristics of each networking configuration and their respective linkage to social identity measures such as role clarity, co-worker integration and organizational commitment as well as network characteristics such as network size and density.

, 2008