ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the nature and importance of relationship capital within resilient organizations. It begins with a story regarding Harvard University’s Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness, emphasizing the critical role that relationships play in organizational resilience. The chapter notes the difference between strong- and weak-tie networks and explains their significance. The use of strong- and weak-tie networks allows novel and unpredictable solutions to emerge, especially when such solutions are at odds with the status quo. The chapter then presents three different types of people who are particularly good at improving relationship capital, namely what Malcolm Gladwell calls connectors, mavens, and salesmen. The chapter raises considerations and challenges regarding the cost of relationship capital.
#resilience #organizational resilience #capital #relationship capital #strong-tie networks #weak-tie networks #Malcolm Gladwell #Tipping Point #crisis management
