Intensity of Network Relationships: Towards Conceptualization and Operationalization

The paper content is embedded in the network paradigm and concerns the intensity of network relationships. The aim of the paper is to conceptualize and initially operationalize the construct "intensity of network relationships". The aim has been realized through answering the following research questions: (1) How to identify and explore a set of network relationships of a single organization? (2) How to conceptualize and operationalize the extent to which an organization (node organization, network member) is involved or entangled in the inter-organizational network analysed from the ego-network perspective? The conceptualization and operationalization of the construct have been developed by means of a deepened literature study as well as initial case studies performed by the authors. The paper is organized as follows. The first section presents the essence, origins, and perspectives of researching inter-organizational networks. The construct called intensity of network relationships is conceptualized in the second section. Then, the dimensions of network relationship intensity and its operationalization proposal are highlighted. Finally, some conclusions, limitations, and research directions are formulated.