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Determinants of internal and external networking behaviours: insights into gender, education, political skills and mentoring.

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Title: Determinants of internal and external networking behaviours: insights into gender, education, political skills and mentoring.
Authors: Wanigasekara, Saroja Kumari1 (AUTHOR), Ali, Muhammad2 (AUTHOR) m3.ali@qut.edu.au, French, Erica2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Human Resource Development International. Apr2026, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p269-295. 27p.
Subject Terms: *Social networks, *Educational attainment, Gender differences (Sociology), Mentoring, Social capital, Middle managers, Social skills
Geographic Terms: Sri Lanka
Abstract: Employee internal and external networking behaviours may drive different employee and organisational outcomes, which has implications for Human Resource Development professionals. However, little is known about how to develop internal and external networking behaviours. Using social role theory, social capital theory, and personal initiative theory, this study examines the impact of employee gender, education, political skills, and mentoring on internal and external networking behaviours. We utilised a mixed-method sequential research design comprising two studies. Study 1 survey data were collected from 372 middle managers from 10 Sri Lankan manufacturing and service organisations. The results indicate the higher external networking behaviours of men; the elevated internal and external networking behaviours of managers with a master's degree; a positive relationship between political skills and both internal and external networking behaviours; and a positive relationship between mentoring and internal networking behaviours. Study 2 comprised 12 interviews of middle managers who had participated in Study 1. Thematic and content analyses explain, refine, and extend the results of Study 1. The findings have several implications for developing the networking behaviours of middle managers. Theoretical and research contributions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Human Resource Development International is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Determinants of internal and external networking behaviours: insights into gender, education, political skills and mentoring.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Human+Resource+Development+International%22">Human Resource Development International</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p269-295. 27p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+networks%22">Social networks</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+attainment%22">Educational attainment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+differences+%28Sociology%29%22">Gender differences (Sociology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentoring%22">Mentoring</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+capital%22">Social capital</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+managers%22">Middle managers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+skills%22">Social skills</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sri+Lanka%22">Sri Lanka</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Employee internal and external networking behaviours may drive different employee and organisational outcomes, which has implications for Human Resource Development professionals. However, little is known about how to develop internal and external networking behaviours. Using social role theory, social capital theory, and personal initiative theory, this study examines the impact of employee gender, education, political skills, and mentoring on internal and external networking behaviours. We utilised a mixed-method sequential research design comprising two studies. Study 1 survey data were collected from 372 middle managers from 10 Sri Lankan manufacturing and service organisations. The results indicate the higher external networking behaviours of men; the elevated internal and external networking behaviours of managers with a master's degree; a positive relationship between political skills and both internal and external networking behaviours; and a positive relationship between mentoring and internal networking behaviours. Study 2 comprised 12 interviews of middle managers who had participated in Study 1. Thematic and content analyses explain, refine, and extend the results of Study 1. The findings have several implications for developing the networking behaviours of middle managers. Theoretical and research contributions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Human Resource Development International is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/13678868.2024.2375952
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Gender differences (Sociology)
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      – SubjectFull: Sri Lanka
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      – TitleFull: Determinants of internal and external networking behaviours: insights into gender, education, political skills and mentoring.
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              Text: Apr2026
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              Y: 2026
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