Operating virtually within a hierarchical framework: How a virtual organization really works

This thesis is an extensive case study of an internationally dispersed, multi-disciplinary network of sixteen independent scholars working in a virtual research organization (Globenet). This case study compares Globenet to bureaucratic and virtual organizational models. It does so to examine, first, how Globenet establishes itself and operates as one type of virtual organization, and, second, how its members' involvement in this temporally, geographically distributed organization affects the structure and content of scholarly and interpersonal relationships within the organization.; Comparing the functioning of Globenet to traditional typifications of bureaucracies does offer insight into the functioning of a small, goal oriented, temporary virtual organization established and funded by a much larger more permanent, hierarchical organization. Globenet members' involvement in this loosely-connected, temporal, spatially distributed organization affects the structure, composition and content of work and social relationships within the network.; Social network properties are employed to examine how these sixteen spatially dispersed scholars establish positions of prominence and scholarly involvement in advice seeking, scholarly contact (outside of regular meetings) and collaboration networks. Members who performed internal organizational positions such as director, co-editor and co-director achieved greater prominence within Globenet. Members' external prestigious accomplishments and status were independent of their levels of prominence within Globenet. However, because of the fraternity-like nature of this organization, members were recruited according to their academic achievements and research endeavours.; Globenet members' scholarly involvement with corresponding members was associated with their frequent communication, friendship relations, discipline similarity and reading of each others' work. Members who were socially similar (discipline) were more likely to develop scholarly involvement than those who were working closer in distance. Members' overall pattern of relationships further reinforced the distinction between social similarity (e.g., disciplinary and research similarity) and physical proximity (e.g., working in the same country, city or university). Globenet members were positioned with other members who were working in the same discipline or who were producing work that showed common interests, as opposed to members who were working in the same city or university. Even though Globenet is a case study of one type of scholarly network, it provides rich information on how a cross-disciplinary, globally dispersed virtual organization gets established and then operates.