Exploring Status in Organization and Management Theory
How do scholars define status? Alessandro Piazza and Fabrizio Castellucci, both of Bocconi University, point out in
their article “Status in Organization and Management Theory”, published in the January issue of the Journal of Management, that its precise definition and its usage in empirical research have been the subject of much controversy. From the article:
“This topic is therefore ripe for a review article that is targeted at management scholars. In fact, while a few reviews exist (Chen et al., 2012; Jasso, 2001; Lin, 1999; Sauder et al., 2012), they mostly draw on research in sociology and are thus not intended for wide readership in
our field. Moreover, none of these reviews has specifically attempted to highlight how and to what extent the status construct is relevant to the managerial literature. This is important because the theoretical perspectives employed in studies of status tend to vary to some extent across disciplines. Sociologists’ general view of the notion shows strong linkages with power (Bonacich, 1987), and it is applicable to a wide variety of social situations (Magee & Galinsky, 2008). Organization and management scholars tend to focus on a smaller situational subset—e.g., small groups, organizations, markets or other competitive environments— and do so with an eye to some sort of positive outcome a favorable status position might have for its holder (Malter, 2011b; Podolny, 1993; Stuart, Hoang, & Hybels, 1999).”
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