Session Summary

Session Number:222
Session ID:S325
Session Title:Individual Differences In Perceiving, Building And Using Networks Effectively
Short Title:
Session Type:Division Joint Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt East
Floor:LL2
Room:GndBall B
Time:Monday, August 09, 1999 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Sponsors

OB  (Robert Liden)bobliden@uic.edu (312) 996-4481 
MOC  (Kathleen Sutcliffe)ksutclif@umich.edu (734) 764-2312 

General People

Co-Chair Ibarra, Herminia  Harvard Business School hibarra@hbs.edu (617)-495-6485 
Co-Chair Filipowicz, Allan  Harvard Business School afilipowicz@hbs.edu (617)-495-6122 
Discussant Burt, Ron  U. of Chicago ron.burt@gsbpop.uchicago.edu (773)-702-0848 
Discussant Snyder, Mark  U. of Minnesota msnyder@umn.edu (612)-625-4042 

Submissions

Depression, positive affect, and accuracy in social network perception 
Presenter Casciaro, Tiziana  Carnegie Mellon U. tc3r@andrew.cmu.edu (412)-268-3224 
Presenter Carley, Kathleen M. Carnegie Mellon U. carley@andrew.cmu.edu 412-268-3225 
Presenter Krackhardt, David  Carnegie Mellon U. krack+@andrew.cmu.edu (412)-268-4758 
Building effective networks: A psychological perspective 
Presenter Filipowicz, Allan  Harvard Business School afilipowicz@hbs.edu (617)-495-6122 
Who gets ahead? Self-monitoring, social networks and success in organizations 
Presenter Mehra, Ajay  U. of Cincinnati ajay.mehra@uc.edu (513)-556-7129 
Presenter Kilduff, Martin  Pennsylvania State U. mkilduff@psu.edu (814) 865-9822 

Abstract

Networks constrain and provide opportunities for individuals. Some networks (and positions in them) are better than others. Research has shown that those who span a diversity of social circles, connect unconnected others, and hold central positions in the social structure reap social and instrumental benefits. But this work assumes that everyone can build and use networks equally well. Individuals perceive the social world around them and take steps to increase their opportunities and decrease their constraints. Yet agency, how people act to produce networks, remains an under-investigated area. Are there individual differences in the ability and motivation to perceive, build and use networks effectively? This symposium addresses that question, with each paper tackling one element (perceiving, building and using). Our discussants, a structurally oriented network researcher and a social and personality psychologist, will then provide perspective from both sides of this multidisciplinary question.