POWER, SOCIAL-INFLUENCE, AND SENSE MAKING - EFFECTS OF NETWORK CENTRALITY AND PROXIMITY ON EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS

This paper explores the hypothesis that network interaction patterns a ffect employee perceptions through two conceptually and empirically di stinguishable mechanisms: localized social influence based on network proximity and systemic power based on network centrality. The study ex plores the relative contributions of individual attributes, formal org anizational positions, network centrality, and network proximity in ex plaining individual variation in perceptions of work-related condition s in an advertising firm. Results suggest that network factors shape j ob-related perceptions, over and above the effects of individual attri butes and formal positions. Both advice network centrality and friends hip network proximity evidenced significant effects, although they wer e stronger for centrality than for proximity.