The Hidden Power of Social Networks
How to optimize the circulation of information?
Author(s): Rob Cross, Andrew Parker
Publisher: Harvard Business School Press
Date of publication: 2004
Manageris opinion
Devoted to the networks formed by employees in a company or department, this book attempts to understand how these networks function and how they could be improved to facilitate the effective flow of information. The analytical, disciplined, precise and straightforward manner in which the authors address the topic gets right to the heart of the issue with no superfluous meanderings.
In addition to offering high-quality thinking, this book can also serve alone as a how-to guide for managers who want to study the existing networks within an organization. Chapters 3 and 5 clearly explain how to do this, and are complemented by the very useful surveys and checklists in Appendix A.
We also recommend chapters 6 and 7, which contain many practical tips and illustrative examples on how to improve the way networks operate in an organization.