Informal power, innovative cultures, and online communication use in horizontal organizations.

摘要

This study aims at providing insights into how formal and informal sources of power are associated with horizontal organizations, online communication, and innovative cultures. In particular this study explores how informal sources of power are linked with horizontal structures and how online communication can help support innovative cultures. In this cross-sectional study, correlation and regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses on a convenience sample of 160 employees in a wide variety of organizations. The survey was distributed online through personal networks, professional associations, and online groups.;The study found that formal sources of power are dissociated from horizontal structures and informal sources of power are positively associated with horizontal structures. These findings are consistent with previous literature. Further two new sources of power were investigated, connection power and information power. Results yielded no support for information power as a unique source of power; however, connection power was identified as a new power source. Informal sources of power were found to be significantly correlated with innovative cultures as well as online communication; a mediation analysis also showed that informal sources of power mediated the relationship between online communication and innovative cultures. Further, horizontal structures were found to be significantly correlated with innovative cultures.;This study advances our understanding of the informal sources of power and their importance in horizontal structures. In particular, this research provides further understanding of the power source, connection power. The emphasis on informal sources of power in this study does not necessarily imply that formal sources of power are no longer relevant. Rather, the findings suggest that horizontal structures and informal sources of power seem to complement and reinforce innovative cultures. Leaders who wish to promote creativity and innovation will benefit from understanding how to influence others in new and different ways that do not necessarily involve their formal authority power.