Talk by Tiziana Casciaro Nov 20th

Tiziana Casciaro (University of Toronto) will be presenting her paper titled "The co-evolution of instrumental and affective content in intraorganizational task-related networks: A theory of affective primacy" on November 20, 2009, 10:00 am in Rm 446. Here is her abstract:

THE CO-EVOLUTION OF INSTRUMENTAL AND AFFECTIVE CONTENT IN INTRAORGANIZATIONAL TASK-RELATED NETWORKS: A THEORY OF AFFECTIVE PRIMACY

Tiziana Casciaro, University of Toronto

Abstract
To better understand the structuration of task-related networks in organizations, we develop a theory of the co-evolution of instrumental and affective content in task-related ties. We test this theory with longitudinal whole-network data from employees in a small functional-form organization, which we analyze with a methodology drawing from the social relations model of interpersonal perception and hierarchical Bayesian models for social network analysis. We find that the affective content of social relations stimulates the formation of task-related ties both directly, by increasing the hedonic rewards from the interaction, and indirectly, by altering the instrumental value of the relationship. Conversely, the instrumental value of the interaction does not modify its affective value either directly or indirectly. Similarly, formal-structural arrangements shape the instrumental content of the interaction but do not alter its affective content. The only robust predictor of affective content in our data is attribute similarity among social actors. We conclude that, while both instrumental and affective motivations trigger the formation of task networks, the affective content of task-related ties is primal: it causes task-related action and related instrumental rewards, but is independent of formal-structural and instrumental dimensions of social interaction.