| The objective of this research is threefold: (1) to propose and test a model of the eight interrelated components of organizational behavior in a networked environment, (2) to demonstrate the application of LISREL in estimating and testing the proposed structural equation model, and (3) to prescribe a roadmap for the next generation of model building. The accomplishments of the research include the validation of structural links among Leadership, Goal Alignment, Relational Qualities, and Organizational Success in a model with a Goodness of Fit Index of .98.; This work generally corroborates earlier statistical studies of the bivariate correlation between pairs of the same measured indicators. Building upon the earlier work on management coordination systems, this research tests the assertion that success in an organization is contingent upon Leadership acting synergistically with Trust, Adaptability, Information Processing, Lack of Conflict and Personal Commitment to bring about effective coordination within an inter-organizational setting. The tool of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) allows the researcher to probe these individual relationships while retaining a commanding view of the overall system under study. The lens offered by this systematic view can be applied to other business settings to offer new insight into hitherto unexplained aspects of the complex, interrelated, and often counterintuitive studies of organizational behavior in a network environment.; This research concludes with five implications for leaders of networked organizations: (1) curtail the relationship conflict, (2) leverage informal ties to increase critical information flow, (3) closely monitor boundary-spanners, (4) invest in future-oriented adaptability, and (5) understand the glue (system interfaces) that binds the network. These implications are supported by SEM modeling of three divisions at Texas Instruments and system dynamics modeling of 10 groups surveyed longitudinally at Hughes Aircraft. Theoretical support for the five implications also is derived from systems theory, complexity theory, network theory for both open and closed forms, embeddedness theory, structural hole theory, information flow principles, and studies on complex adaptive systems. In addition to offering a validated SEM model of network behavior, the same insights helped to craft two new systems dynamics archetypes called "Learning Engine" and "Passing the Baton."... |
