Transformation of Academic Atmosphere: The Role of Social Networks

Abstract

Internal network among the faculties and the commercial industries in the academia often depicts a vivid picture of various processes and resources related to their professional activities as such. This paper explores the various networks among the faculties and administrations within the context of academia using a combination of social network analysis. In doing so, it uses a qualitative research method to study the impacts of various links within the network using social network analysis. Theories of Ibarra's model of personal networks of women and minorities in management, the principle of homophily (the tendency to bond with similar others), and Finkelstein's typology of colleagueship functions are used as the conceptual guideline. The study shows what kind of networks influences departmental characteristics, individual characteristics, colleagueship functions, and networking behaviors and the exchange of resources among distinct entities within the universities in Bangladesh.