Information technology--Social aspects.

I investigate whether or not a firm’s social network size (also known as social
capital) impacts the quality of its information environment. Following social capital
theory, I posit three potential channels that help bring an informational advantage to wellconnected
firms. First, well-connected firms are likely to have timely access to a broader
set of information that affords them the opportunity to disclose this information. Second,
a social network fosters trust among social peers, which promotes the transfer of more
accurate information within that network. Third, well-connected executives and directors
have greater reputational capital at stake, which may encourage them to provide accurate
information to the market. I provide evidence that well-connected firms have higher
quality information environments.
I further document that the beneficial impact of the firm’s social network size on
the quality of the firm’s information environment is higher for complex firms. I also find that the beneficial effect of the firm’s social ties on the quality of the firm’s information
environment is greater when the firm’s connections are in the same industry or are top
executives or are industry leaders or are financiers in the capital markets.
My study extends existing social network literature by investigating whether
firm’s social connections to outside executives and directors impact the quality of the
firm’s information environment. My paper focuses on the networking skills of the
executives and directors and extends the literature on how executives’ and directors’
personal characteristics are important. Additionally, I respond to the call by Engelberg et
al. (2013) to identify the mechanism by which a CEO’s network creates value to the firm
and well-connected CEOs get paid higher compensation. This study also contributes to a
growing debate in social network literature between social capital theory and agency
theory. Finally, my study is important to the regulators and standard setters as they can
provide further evidence on the impact of non-financial information on the information
quality surrounding the firm.

This dissertation makes the connection between the human drive, as described by psychoanalysis, to construct God and the construction of the technological entity, Google. Google constitutes the extension of the early Christian period God to the twenty-first century. From the examination of significant religious and theological texts by significant theologians (Augustine, Thomas, Luther, Calvin, etc.) that explain the nature of God, the analogous relationship of God to Google will open a psychoanalytic discourse that answers questions on the current state of human mediation with the world. Freud and, more significantly, Lacan’s work connects the human creation of God, ex nihilio, to Google’s godly qualities and behaviors (omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence). This illustrates the powerful motivation behind the creation of an all-encompassing physical / earthly entity that includes the immaterial properties of God. Essentially, Google operates as the extension or replacement of the long reigning God in Western culture. Furthermore, the advent of science and technology through rationalism (as outlined by Nietzsche) results in the death of the metaphysical God and the ascension of the technological God. Google offers an appropriate example for study. Moreover, the work of Jean Baudrillard and Marshall McLuhan will further comment on Google as the technological manifestation of God, particularly in its media formulations. Finally, this dissertation concludes with a review that highlights future research with an exploration that foresees the death of Google from the same rational method of inquiry by which the death of God occurred at the end of the nineteenth century.