Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

1-2022

Abstract

Prior research assumes that high-status actors have greater organizational influence than lower-status ones, that is, it is easier for the former to get their ideas and initiatives adopted by the organization than it is for the latter. Drawing from the literature on ideology, we posit that the status-influence link is contingent on actors’ ideological position. Specifically, status confers organizational influence to the degree that the focal actor is ideologically mainstream. The more an actor’s ideology deviates from the mainstream the less will her status translate into increased organizational influence. We find support for this hypothesis using data on the work of legislators in the House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress. By illuminating how and under what conditions status leads to increased influence, this study qualifies and extends current understandings of the role of status in organizations.

Keywords

Status, influence, ideology, social capital, congress

Discipline

Applied Behavior Analysis | Social Influence and Political Communication | Strategic Management Policy

Research Areas

Strategy and Organisation

Publication

Organization Studies

Volume

43

Issue

1

First Page

35

Last Page

57

ISSN

0170-8406

Identifier

10.1177/0170840620907201

Publisher

SAGE

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840620907201

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