Organization Sponsorship and Influence Reputation of Social Influence Associations

Data from 70 Indianapolis associations and organizations reveal a substantial impact of sponsorship on reputation, controlling for network social position and association attributes.

Abstract

This paper draws from a resource-dependence perspective on relations among organizations to consider this question: What effect does diversity among organizations which contribute resources to social influence associations, have on the capacity of such associations to maintain their autonomy (as indicated by their reputations for influence) while pursuing public policy objectives? Data from 70 Indianapolis associations and organizations reveal a substantial impact of sponsorship on reputation, controlling for network social position and association attributes. In turn, association members' ratings of goal effectiveness seem to be most affected by influence reputation and only indirectly by resource sponsorship.