Communications network centrality correlates to organisational coordination

Abstract

We explore the correlation between actor centrality and project-based coordination. By drawing from established coordination and organisational process theory, a text-mining tool is designed and implemented to measure coordination from a large dataset on organisational communications. Here, we provide effective mechanisms for: (i) cataloguing coordination key phrases from electronic communications; (ii) calculation of coordination score based on project scope; (iii) construction of social network matrices using centrality measures; and (iv) approaches for exploring the association between communications network centrality and coordination score. We argue that actor centrality affects the ability of an individual to coordinate the actions of others. The following questions guide this study-What is the effect of communications network centrality on organisational coordination? How is the actor's ability to coordinate projects related to their structural position in the communications network? We developed multi-layered test designs to explore this relationship in a project-based (macro) and cross-project (micro) level. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd and IPMA.