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Social networks and employee voice: The influence of team members’ and team leaders’ social network positions on employee voice

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  • Venkataramani, Vijaya
  • Zhou, Le
  • Wang, Mo
  • Liao, Hui
  • Shi, Junqi

Abstract

We examine the role of employees’ and team leaders’ social network positions, an important, yet understudied class of variables, in affecting employees’ voice behaviors. Using multi-level, multi-source data from 185 employees nested within 43 teams and their team leaders, we find that employees who hold central positions in the formal, workflow network in the team are more likely to speak up with ideas and suggestions. This relationship is weakened when they are central to the team’s avoidance network. In addition to employees’ own network positions, team leaders’ positions in such informal networks also play a role in qualifying the employee workflow centrality–voice relationship. Specifically, the positive relationship between employees’ workflow centrality and their voice is strengthened when their team leaders occupy central positions in the friendship network, but is weakened when they are central to the avoidance network in the team. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Venkataramani, Vijaya & Zhou, Le & Wang, Mo & Liao, Hui & Shi, Junqi, 2016. "Social networks and employee voice: The influence of team members’ and team leaders’ social network positions on employee voice," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 37-48.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:132:y:2016:i:c:p:37-48
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2015.12.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frances J. Milliken & Elizabeth W. Morrison & Patricia F. Hewlin, 2003. "An Exploratory Study of Employee Silence: Issues that Employees Don’t Communicate Upward and Why," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(6), pages 1453-1476, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yanhan Zhu & Jiang Wu, 0. "Does charismatic leadership encourage or suppress follower voice? The moderating role of challenge–hindrance stressors," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-26.
    3. Rizova, Polly S. & Gupta, Samir & Maltz, Elliot N. & Walker, Robert W., 2018. "Overcoming equivocality on projects in the fuzzy front end: Bringing social networks back in," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 40-55.
    4. Xia Tiantian & Zhang Zhenduo & Xiao Huan & Xiu Jing & Jia Wentong, 2021. "The Curvilinear Relationship Between Job Control and Voice: Role of Emotional Resistance to Change and Supervisor Developmental Feedback," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, June.
    5. Bhatti, Zeeshan Ahmed & Arain, Ghulam Ali & Akram, Muhammad Shakaib & Fang, Yu-Hui & Yasin, Hina Mahboob, 2020. "Constructive voice behavior for social change on social networking sites: A reflection of moral identity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    6. Ume Habibah & Mujeeb-u-Rehman Bhayo & Muhammad Shahid Iqbal, 2021. "Investor Sentiments and Fama–French Five-Factor Premia," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, June.

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