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Networking characteristics of African‐American managers: empirical validation and training applications
Author(s) -
Brutus Stéphane,
Livers Ancella
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of training and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.558
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1468-2419
pISSN - 1360-3736
DOI - 10.1111/1468-2419.00114
Subject(s) - african american , training (meteorology) , white (mutation) , business , psychology , knowledge management , marketing , computer science , sociology , geography , biochemistry , ethnology , chemistry , meteorology , gene
This article describes the impact of informal networks on managerial effectiveness in general and, more specifically, for that of African‐American managers. Previous research has demonstrated that network characteristics conducive to increased performance for African‐Americans differed significantly from those of white managers (e.g. Ibarra, 1995). These results are further validated in this study through the use of a different performance measure. Networking characteristics and multi‐raters’ performance information were collected from 185 managers. Results show that high performing African‐American managers possess informal networks composed of a higher proportion of other African‐Americans than their low performing counterparts. The reverse trend was found for white managers. A description of a training module based on these results is offered.