ABSTRACT

Organizations are complex social systems that are not easy to understand, yet they must be managed if a company is to succeed. This book explains networks and how managers and organizations can navigate them to produce successful strategic innovation outcomes. Although managers are increasingly aware of the importance of social relations for the inner-workings of the organization, they often lack insights and tools to analyze, influence or even create these networks.

This book draws on insights from social network theory; insights sharpened by research in a number of different empirical settings including production, engineering, financial services, consulting, food processing, and R&D/hi-tech organizations and alternates between offering critical real business examples and more rigorous analysis.

This concise book is vital reading for students of business and management as well as managers and executives.

chapter 1|18 pages

Introduction

The networked organization

part 1|79 pages

Networks and organization strategy

chapter 2|14 pages

Diagnosing The Organization

chapter 3|17 pages

Innovation Roles

Internally and externally oriented brokerage

chapter 4|11 pages

Intermezzo

Cooperation for innovation at Siemens (case)

chapter 5|15 pages

Rich Ties

Combining networks *

chapter 6|20 pages

Cross-Ties For Innovative Teams *

part 2|48 pages

Networking Interventions

chapter 7|14 pages

Intervening To Stimulate Innovation

chapter 8|10 pages

Innovation Despite Reorganizing *

Rewiring the network

chapter 10|5 pages

Managing Innovation In The Networked Organization

Conclusions