Dear Colleagues!

 

I would like to invite you to a Professional Development Workshop on Social Network Perspectives and Analysis in HR research to be held at the Academy of Management meeting in Chicago. The session will take place at 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm, Friday 7 August 2009 in the Sheraton hotel (Ontario Room).

If you would like to attend, please email Zella King ([log in to unmask]) for an approval code. Places are limited to 50, and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. We have about 30 places remaining.

 

If you are interested in attending, it would be really helpful if you also send Zella:

- 2-3 sentences on why you are interested in the PDW
- a question you would like to see raised in the discussion

The workshop is organised by Zella King and myself. Speakers include Scott Snell, Martin Kilduff and Chris Brewster. Further details are given below.

Social Network Perspectives and Analysis in HRM Research
Organisers:  Zella King (Reading); Robert Kaše (Ljubljana)
Professional Development Workshop
2.00 pm to 5.30 pm, Friday 7 August 2009
Ontario Room, Sheraton Hotel, Chicago

Since the early 1990s interest in social networks and the use of a wide-ranging collection of social network methodologies has been growing in the social sciences. Social network perspectives provide a powerful analytical lens for investigating and understanding social processes in organizations. To date, however, the use of social network perspectives within the HR community has been relatively limited. Interest is emerging, but the potential for use of social network perspectives has not been fully tapped by researchers in HRM.

The objectives of the PDW are to provide an opportunity for HRM researchers to make greater use of social network approaches in their research by:

*       Introducing HRM scholars who have not yet used social network approaches to the possibilities they offer for investigative work, and give them the opportunity to develop ideas for using such perspectives in their research;
*       Introducing theoretical possibilities offered by social network perspectives and outlining a variety of empirical approaches;
*       Building on an international group of contributors from the US, UK, Slovenia and the Netherlands to provide an opportunity for HRM scholars from a range of institutions and countries who are currently using social network perspectives to meet, share ideas and perhaps identify collaborators;
*       Offering a balance of contributors, including presentations from those who are established, published users of SN approaches, and from scholars who are beginning to experiment with them.

 Program

Introductory session

*       Robert Kaše (University of Ljubljana). The basics: Introduction to social network perspectives and what they offer HRM scholars

The use of network approaches in HR research: examples

*       Zella King (University of Reading). A statistical approach: Using Siena to analyze career and information networks
*       Chris Brewster (University of Reading) and Paul Ligthart (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen). A descriptive approach: Using UCINET to analyze the networks of HRM Directors
*       Kristiina Makela (Hanken School of Economics) and Chris Brewster (University of Reading): Using name generator technique from SNA with traditional multivariate methods

Broader perspectives: Two discussants offer their own perspectives on the potential for social network research in HRM

*       Martin Kilduff (Cambridge University). Social network research and HRM
*       Scott Snell (Darden School, Virginia) A perspective on social network analysis from within the HRM field

Speed introductions - Participants briefly introduce themselves; their extent of experience with SNA and their research interests (post-it note approach)

Break with refreshments - During the break, participants are encouraged to talk to / move seats to sit with people with similar interests

Group discussions of potential for use of SN perspectives in own work
  
Round-up

 

If you know other people that might be interested please forward this email to them.

 

Looking forward to seeing you in Chicago,

 

Robert Kaše

University of Ljubljana