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Communicate or not: Exploring the different effects of instrumental and expressive networks on thriving at work

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2024

Mengxiao Zhu Open the ORCID record for Mengxiao Zhu [Opens in a new window] ,
Ruoxiao Su Open the ORCID record for Ruoxiao Su [Opens in a new window] ,
Lin Liu  and
Noshir Contractor
Mengxiao Zhu
Affiliation:
Department of Communication of Science and Technology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Ruoxiao Su*
Affiliation:
Department of Communication Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Lin Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Management Science and Engineering, School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
Noshir Contractor
Affiliation:
Departments of Communication Studies, Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences, and Management & Organizations, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
*
Corresponding author: Ruoxiao Su; Email: ruoxiaosu@utexas.edu
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Abstract

Thriving at work is closely related to the way employees are embedded in their social contexts, such as the structure of their communication relations with coworkers. In previous research, communication relations have been found to negatively relate to thriving at work. However, social network theory suggests that communication relations are beneficial in obtaining resources in the workplace, which might increase thriving at work. To reconcile the seemingly conflicting mechanisms, we draw on social network theory to unpack the mechanisms underlying communication relations by considering the instrumental and expressive roles. Using a structural equation model, we investigate the indirect effects of communication networks on thriving at work via advice-seeking networks (instrumental) and friendship networks (expressive). Our findings indicate communication relations are negatively related to thriving at work via advice-seeking relations, but are positively related to thriving at work via friendship relations.

Keywords

thriving at worksocial network analysisadvice networkfriendship networkcommunication network
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , First View , pp. 1 - 18
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management.

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