Does the Playing Field Determine the Game? - An Impact Analysis of Structural Virtual Network Characteristics on Political Actions

Henning Staar, Monique Janneck, Frederik Metzger, Stefan Berwing, Thomas Armbrüster

2013

Abstract

Virtual networks are often characterized as having less formal and hierarchical structures. Instead, informal actions and so-called political behaviour of individual members play an important role regarding power and decision-making. In this paper we investigate the relation between structural characteristics of virtual networks and informal influence tactics of network members. Results show that there are indeed numerous relations between the ‘playing field’ provided by the network structure and the behaviour of individual network players. Surprisingly, an increase of formalization, e.g. through the use of agreements, fixed principles and rules or even contracts, did not constrain informal political behavior. On the contrary, higher formalization was comprehensively associated with higher use of micro-political tactics.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Staar H., Janneck M., Metzger F., Berwing S. and Armbrüster T. (2013). Does the Playing Field Determine the Game? - An Impact Analysis of Structural Virtual Network Characteristics on Political Actions . In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: STDIS, (WEBIST 2013) ISBN 978-989-8565-54-9, pages 571-580. DOI: 10.5220/0004500105710580

in Bibtex Style

@conference{stdis13,
author={Henning Staar and Monique Janneck and Frederik Metzger and Stefan Berwing and Thomas Armbrüster},
title={Does the Playing Field Determine the Game? - An Impact Analysis of Structural Virtual Network Characteristics on Political Actions},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: STDIS, (WEBIST 2013)},
year={2013},
pages={571-580},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004500105710580},
isbn={978-989-8565-54-9},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: STDIS, (WEBIST 2013)
TI - Does the Playing Field Determine the Game? - An Impact Analysis of Structural Virtual Network Characteristics on Political Actions
SN - 978-989-8565-54-9
AU - Staar H.
AU - Janneck M.
AU - Metzger F.
AU - Berwing S.
AU - Armbrüster T.
PY - 2013
SP - 571
EP - 580
DO - 10.5220/0004500105710580