A Practical Guide to Social Networks (HBR, March, 2005) by Jeanne Liedtka, Leigh Weiss, Rob Cross:
Saying that networks are important is stating the obvious. But harnessing the power of these seemingly invisible groups to achieve organizational goals is an elusive undertaking. Most efforts to promote collaboration are haphazard and built on the implicit philosophy that more connectivity is better. In truth, networks create relational demands that sap people’s time and energy and can bog down entire organizations. It’s crucial for executives to learn how to promote connectivity only where it benefits an organization or individual and to decrease unnecessary connections.
The authors introduce three types of social networks, each of which delivers unique value and propose the tools for determining which network delivers the best results for their organizations and which strategic investments nurture the right degree of connectivity.