Yannick Atouba

International Nonprofit Collaboration Examining the Role of Homophily

The importance and popularity of interorganizational collaboration among nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have grown considerably in recent years. Despite these growths, however, not much is known about why NGOs network the way they do or why NGO networks are structured the way they are. Using homophily theory and exponential random graph modeling, this study examines the patterns of interorganizational collaborative ties among infectious diseases international NGOs (INGOs) in 2007 (n = 94). The results suggest that these NGOs are more likely to collaborate when they have the same status, when they have similar (closer) founding dates, when they are headquartered in the same global hemisphere (north/south), when they have common funding partners, and when they are headquartered in the same geographic regions. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that various sources of homophily inform partner selection among infectious disease INGOs.

Two Paths Diverged: Examining the Antecedents to Social Entrepreneurship

This research examines the antecedents that motivate and prepare social entrepreneurs to begin social ventures. Drawing from in-depth interviews with 20 social entrepreneurs, this research reveals that there are two paths to social entrepreneurship: the activist path and the business path. Both activist and business social entrepreneurs were motivated by a family legacy or a transformative early adulthood experience as the moral basis for forming a social venture, and both suggested that prior work experience was instrumental in helping them launch their social venture. However, activist social entrepreneurs were likely to form their social venture as a continuation of their ongoing work on a social issue. In contrast, business social entrepreneurs’ first activity on a social issue was to form a social venture. This research suggests that these two different paths to social entrepreneurship result in different types of social ventures.

Directives and Dialogue Examining the Relationship Between Participative Organizational Communication Practices and Organizational Identification Among IT Workers

This study explores how the dialogue—or lack thereof—between employees’ opinions and organization-wide communications relates to employees’ identification with the organization. Using survey data from a sample of 111 IT workers, we performed cross-level tests to explore how employee voice, the perceived adequacy of organization-wide downward communication, and job satisfaction related to employees’ organizational identification. The results of the hierarchical regression and mediation analyses revealed that higher levels of employee voice were associated with higher levels of organizational identification and fully mediated by job satisfaction. Similarly, higher levels of organization-wide communication adequacy were associated with higher levels of organizational identification and partially mediated by job satisfaction. The findings suggest that inclusive and participative organizational communication practices are most likely to foster organizational identification when they are viewed favorably by employees and positively impact their job experiences.

(Un)Obtrusive Control in Emergent Networks: Examining Funding Agencies’ Control Over Nonprofit Networks:

Nonprofit sector organizations tackle intractable problems by seeking support from external funding agencies, resulting in funders holding power through resource control. Nonprofits also access resources and coordinate activities through building networks with other nonprofits. Such networks have been viewed as emergent with an underlying assumption that the nonprofits determine when and with whom to partner. Given the power of funders, however, how much control do the nonprofits have in determining whether or not to partner? Document analysis of 83 application packets used by funders in the United States to collect and assess nonprofit suitability for funding shows significant differences between private- and public-sector control over nonprofits decisions to network. Unlike private-sector foundations, public-agency funding documents mandate awardees to network, which has practical and theoretical implications. Although the idea of building a network implies autonomous acts on the part of nonprofits, some are prone to hierarchical influences through grant-making policy.

Let’s Start From the Beginning Examining the Connections Between Partner Selection, Trust, and Communicative Effectiveness in Voluntary Partnerships Among Human Services Nonprofits

The increasing popularity of interorganizational collaboration among human services nonprofits has generated significant interest and research from a variety of disciplines. However, the current literature has not sufficiently addressed the factors that shape trust and communication in human services nonprofit partnerships. As such, this study proposes that partner selection shapes trust and communication and, using data on 202 human services nonprofit partnerships in the state of Illinois, examines the relationship between partner selection factors and communication and trust in human services nonprofit partnerships. The results from the hierarchical regression analyses suggest that two partner selection factors, reputation and homophily, are significantly positively related to trust. Regarding the factors that shape communication, the results suggest that prior experience and trust are significantly positively related to communicative effectiveness.

Examining the relationships between participative organisational communication practices and burnout among IT professionals

This study examines the relationships two important participative organisational communication practices, namely employee work participation (EWP) and internal communication adequacy (ICA), and information technology (IT) workers’ burnout symptoms. Using a sample of 111 IT workers from an IT company based in the Midwest of the United States, results from multiple regression analyses show that ICA and EWP both play important – albeit different – roles in reducing employees’ burnout symptoms. ICA is positively associated with employees’ sense of professional efficacy/personal accomplishment and negatively associated with depersonalisation/cynicism. EWP, on the other hand, is negatively associated with emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Essentially, the results of this study suggest that both ICA and EWP constitute important protective factors against burnout, especially among knowledge workers. Based on these results, implications and recommendations for reducing IT workers’ burnout and building communicatively healthy workplaces are provided.

Modeling Valued Organizational Communication Networks Using Exponential Random Graph Models

For years, organizational communication scholars have been interested in the mechanisms that influence the formation of communication networks. One way to gain a deeper insight into the factors that shape such networks is to model them using exponential random graph modeling (ERGM). However, ERGM has only been applicable to binary networks, reducing communication to something that is either present or not. This article illustrates valued ERGM for organizational communication networks that have a weight associated with each tie. Using a data set on friendship strength between collaborative scientists, results show there are important differences when the network is modeled as binary versus when modeled as valued. In particular, the valued model showed that scientists are more selective regarding friendship (less outdegree activity). Moreover, there were several differences regarding how popular certain disciplines were over others. An online appendix with the R code and data is also included.

Tackling the Turnover Challenge Among IT Workers: Examining the Role of Internal Communication Adequacy, Employee Work Participation, and Organizational Identification

This study examines the relationships between two empowering organizational communication practices, employee work participation (EWP) and internal communication adequacy (ICA), and the mediating role of workers’ organizational identification (OI) on information technology (IT) workers’ turnover intentions. Using a sample of 111 IT workers from a Midwest-based IT company, results from multiple regression and mediation analyses show that EWP is both directly and indirectly negatively associated with workers’ turnover intentions. Additionally, the results show that OI, and both ICA and OI, mediated the relationship between EWP and turnover intention. Implications of the results are discussed.

The Case for a Two-Step Approach to Agricultural Campaign Design

Development campaigns designed to scale up effective agricultural solutions often rely on media. Information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) proponents argue that increased media penetration is necessary for such campaigns to succeed. Interviews of 63 extension agents and 200 farmers in Burkina Faso about their disparities in media ownership, access, skills, and preferences suggest that agricultural development campaigns should account for the different media environments and preferences of target populations within countries. This research presents such an alternative approach, a two-step campaign design intended to address digital divides within countries and target population preferences.