Networks and Communities

In organizations people talk to each other outside the reporting lines indicated on an organization chart. Joe may report to Jane in the hierarchy and be part of a team with Tim, Mike and Caroline, but also spend time communicating with Jim, Anne, Mary and Charlie, who report into other managers. This has long been recognized in the literature and often referred to as ‘the informal organization’. We can, though, be a bit more sophisticated than this. In another section we focus on learning in the team and hence through official channels.