Structure and evolution of communication networks in organizations

We study three types of communication data--emails, phone calls, and meetings-in a modern IT firm. Using network descriptive statistics, we show how communication networks in an organization differ from random networks and other social networks. We also compare and contrast the three types of communication networks. Using Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP), Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure (MRQAP) and Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGM), we identify significant factors affecting the size and shape of communication networks. These parameters include organizational structure, homophily, job position, and physical proximity. We record the evolution of the networks and discuss how the factors affecting initial network growth differ from the steady state of the network.Erik Brynjolfsson George and Sandi Schussel Professor of Management Director, Center for Digital Business, MIT Sloan School of Management

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Qian, Jichao, M. Eng. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Erik Brynjolfsson and Sinan Aral.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/46513

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/46513