The Effects of Informal Social Structures: A Cognition–Structure–Action Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of epistemic motives and social structures on individual actions and the implications for organizational outcomes. It has been suggested that the informal social structures that develop within organizations affect the behavior of individuals, perhaps more so than formal structure. If this is true, when studying organizations it may be important to examine the effects of informal social structures on individual actions and organizational outcomes. Drawing on findings from epistemic motive theory and expanding social capital theory, a cognition–structure–action model is introduced as a way to begin systematically examining the informal structure of relations that form within organizations on individual behavior. A multilevel perspective is used to examine the interrelationships between formal organizational structures and epistemic motivation and the formation of informal social structure. This article contributes to network research by examining potential cognitive antecedents to network structure.

Keywords:

• cognition; network structure; epistemic motives

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Harry “Trip” Knoche

Harry “Trip” Knoche is at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago. Before receiving his PhD, he spent 25 years as an executive in high-technology industry. His current research examines the effects of cognition and social structures on organization, innovation and strategy. He can be reached at [email protected].

Gary J. Castrogiovanni

Gary J. Castrogiovanni, PhD, is a professor of management at Florida Atlantic University. His research has appeared in such journals as the Academy of Management Review, the Journal of Management, and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. He has served on the editorial boards of such journals as the Academy of Management Journal, the Journal of Management, the Journal of Management Studies, and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. He can be reached at [email protected].