Emergent Organizational Networks: The Case of Food Hub Managers’ Advice Network

Abstract

The literature on food hubs reveals networks play a critical role in food hub practitioners’ ability to gather information useful for their enterprises. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how the practitioners choose from whom to get information or advice. This study examines the role of individual-, tie-, and network characteristics on the likelihood of receiving advice. By collecting data from managers in the U.S. state of Michigan, the study applied the generalized linear mixed-effects regression method. The results show the strength of tie, transitivity, reciprocity, and alter’s area of expertise affect the likelihood of receiving advice.