Sunbelt XXXI International Network for Social Network ... - INSNA

Organizational Embeddedness And Strong‐weak Ties: Why Mothers In Childcare Centers Seem To Contradict Granovetter’s ThesisSmall, Mario L.Qualitative and Mixed Method Network studiesOrganizations, Adults, Strong Ties, Social Interaction, Childcare CentersSAT.PM1A common rule of thumb, derived from now classic studies in SNA research, is that strong ties tend to provide support but not new information, while weakties provide new information but not social support. The notion derives from the basic principles that strong ties tend to be inbred, that only weak ties arelikely to be bridges, and that closure encourages strong commitments. The present paper examines a case that appears to contradict the rule of thumb:among mothers of children enrolled in New York City childcare centers, many reported friendships providing strong forms of support but also consistently newinformation. Respondents formed strong bonds that were, nonetheless, compartmental in nature, strictly delimited in discursive, interactional, and spatialdimensions. In‐depth interviews with 67 mothers (and some fathers) make clear that the organizational context in which the friendships are sustained makepossible and encourage the formation of ties that exhibit both strong‐ and weak‐tie elements but not the anticipated traits of either. Findings suggest probingmore closely how interactional contexts structure the nature of strength in dyadic relations.Organizational Networks And The Pre‐diffusion Of InnovationsGrant, August E.Innovation, Diffusion, and the Adoption of TechnologyDiffusion, Collective Action, Organizational Behavior, Communication TechnologyTHURS.PM1Research on the diffusion of innovations has focused almost exclusively on the process of adoption and the effects of adoption of innovations. However, beforethe first consumer adoption of an innovation can take place, a set of organizational functions must be served. For example, the adoption of 3‐D televisionrequires organizations to 1) manufacture the television receivers, 2) distribute the receivers, 3) produce content in 3‐D format, and 4) distribute 3‐D. content.This paper addresses these processes, identified collectively as the “pre‐diffusion of innovations,” which leads to the “diffusion threshold”—the point at whichthe first consumer adoption can take place. The paper applies collective action and network analysis theories to propose a set of hypotheses regarding the prediffusionprocess and attainment of the diffusion threshold, addressing the strength and multiplexity of interorganizational linkages. The paper then appliesnetwork analysis to explore the pre‐diffusion processes for a range of communication technologies including 3‐D television, HD radio, HD television, tabletcomputers, and video game systems.