STRUCTURAL BASES OF INTERPERSONAL INFLUENCE IN GROUPS - A LONGITUDINAL CASE-STUDY

I examine the relationship between interpersonal power and influence d uring the resolution of an issue in an organization. Controlling for e lementary bases of power (rewards, coerrion, authority, identification , and expertise), I investigate three bases of power that arise from t he structure of social networks (cohesion, similarity, and centrality) . An analysis of longitudinal data on actors' bases of social power, f requency of interpersonal communications, and interpersonal influences indicates that cohesion, similarity, and centrality have significant effects on issue-related influence net of the elementary power bases. The effects of the structural bases are mediated by the frequency of i ssue-related communication. The primary structural determinant of the frequency of issue-related communication is network cohesion.