Managing obligations and opportunities: Long distance travels and personal network strategies in global organizations

Development of personal networks seems to be of growing importance in global organizations. This paper proposes see business travels more directly related to a need for development, maintenance and exploitation of interpersonal business relationships. Based on an empirical study of managers in 10 international companies, relational aspects of managers intercontinental travels is analyzed, and a theoretical framework to describe interpersonal business relationships and face-to-face interaction is proposed. The framework describes the personal business relationships as motivated by both a need to meet obligations and to build new business opportunities in personal networks of both stronger and weaker ties. Four “personal network strategies”, motivating long distance travels are described. Theoretically, the work draws on research in the field of mobility-studies, as well as recent work in the field of social capital and organizational social networks. The suggested framework is useful not only for a discussion about the role of interpersonal relationships for business travels and contributes to the ongoing academic discussion about the possibilities for development of more sustainable patterns of business travels. Three particular areas for the development of more sustainable network related travels is discussed; raising awareness, reorganization of schedules and responsibilities, and enhanced use of communication technology.