Communication Network Patterns and Employee Performance With New Technology

The relationship between employee performance with new technology and employee communication network variables (activity, size, diversity, and integrativeness) was investigated in a field study of 301 employees from two corporate offices. Comparisons were also made with individual levels of past productivity. In both offices (A and B) multiple regression analysis revealed significant positive relationships between three network factors (diversity, size, and activity) and employee productivity with new technology. In Office B past productivity also emerged as a significant predictor of productivity with new technology. A post hoc analysis revealed that all four network factors in Office A, three network factors in Office B (diversity, size, and activity), and past productivity (both offices) were significant predictors of the speed with which employees increased their productivity ratings. Finally, in Office A one employee discovered an improved method (a reinvention) for using the new technology. A second post hoc analysis revealed that network diversity, network integrativeness, and network size were significant predictors of how quickly the employees implemented the reinvention.