Networks in the Knowledge Economy

by Lisa Sasson (Editor), Rob Cross (Editor), Andrew Parker (Editor)

In today's de-layered, knowledge-intensive organizations, most work of importance is heavily reliant on informal networks of employees within organizations. However, most organizations do not know how to effectively analyze this informal structure in ways that can have a positive impact on organizational performance. Networks in the Knowledge Economy is a collection of readings on the application of social network analysis to managerial concerns. Social network analysis (SNA), a set of analytic tools that can be used to map networks of relationships, allows one to conduct very powerful assessments of information sharing within a network with relatively little effort. This approach makes the invisible web of relationships between people visible, helping managers make informed decisions for improving both their own and their group's performance. Networks in the Knowledge Economy is specifically concerned with networks inside of organizations and addresses three critical areas in
the study of social Social Networks as Important Individual and Organizational Assets, Social Network Implications for Knowledge Creation and Sharing, and Managerial Implications of Social Networks in Organizations. Professionals and students alike will find this book especially valuable, as it provides readings on the application of social network analysis that reflect managerial concerns.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published July 17, 2003

Reviews

[Georvic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great introduction about informal networks and their role in companies. Most of the time a company's organizational chart is quite different from its most important informal networks, like those ones that help diffuse gossip, or the ones related to technical expertise. Whenever a team is formed without taking into account these social networks, disaster can happen. For example, a team leader could be the central node of a technical network, because everyone asks him/her for advice, whereas he/she is an isolated node in the friendship network. Thus, this technical leader could very well face difficulties in interacting with his/her team members. If you are a computer scientist or a software engineer, this book will help you a lot.