Introduction
Network analysis has been adopted across the scientific spectrum from the social sciences to biochemisty with applications in empirical research, modelling, and management, to name a few.1,2,3,4 While the network structure of operating sub-groups has been examined previously to our knowledge a comprehensive analysis of the operating suite incorporating all relevant participants has not yet occurred.5 In studying a network several definitions are worth reviewing (Table 1). Networks can be directed or undirected, referring to whether an edge has a defined source and target or merely denotes the existence of a connection, and weighted or unweighted, referring to value attributed to an edge to impart information related to the nature of a tie. From the structure that arises out of nodes and their corresponding edges several traits addressing their importance in a network can be discussed.9 Though many and varied measures exist, perhaps the most commonly discussed centralities are degree, closeness, betweenness, and eigenvector and it is to these we will limit our analysis. Further, the empirical detection of existing sub-groups or “communities” in a the network will also be examined. While clustering coefficient, a common metric of the social embeddedness of a node in a network, can be applied to undirected networks it cannot be applied to weighted networks and thus was not examined.10
Centrality Measures and Weighting
Expanding upon Table 1, it is worth mentioning some aspects of the various centralities and how they relate. Nodes with high degree centrality are connected directly to correspondingly greater portions of the network and are able to transfer information quickly.7 Nodes with high betweenness centrality can...
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...robability that two distinct communities can be merged by moving nodes one by one is very low.”22 We include this caution so that others wishing to apply similar techniques to their own organizational structures are explicitly aware of potential limitations of community detection.
Future Research
The use of these centrality measures may inform and guide how new informational changes may be best implemented. Analysis across a variety of instution types and sizes would be useful in identifying any generalizable management concepts. Also, subgroup and subcommunity analysis may allow for the identification of key structures that would affect tacit and explicit information flow. For example, this might be useful at an academic center where the identification and optimization of tacit information flow could improve and make more consistent the education of its residents.
-Determine the connectivity matrixX_(i,j), where each matrix element x_(i,j) is a Boolean variable, such that x_(i,j) =1 if there is a link from node i to node j; otherwise, x_(i,j) , = 0.
Terranova, T. (2004). The 'Secondary'. Network Dynamics.
33 Barabási, A. L., 2002 Linked: The New Science of Networks, Cambridge, MA, Perseus Publishing pp 8-9
Looking at IKEA’s organisational structure, the chain of command shows a clear line for messages within functional departments, so therefore; it leads to good communication. For example, looking at the organisational structure of IKEA, there is a clear communication within a human resources department. However, the chain of command is very long from the top to the bottom of the organisation because, there are too many levels of management. This will lead to poor communication. For example, it takes decisions a long time to reach the workers at the bottom of the organisation structure.
Regarding the information management, there is little information flow within the region as group companies are located in different countries. Besides, each group company has developed its own information system so it is hard to communicate and share information among them. There is almost no systematic information within the regional company due to the lack of computer support.
According to Fiske (1997), “the most striking attribute of Homo sapiens is our sociality.” Social connections infest each part of human life and these connections are significantly more broad, complex, and assorted (inside and crosswise over social orders) than those of of any other species. Furthermore, for survival and propagation we are significantly more subject to our social connections and our societies than some other creature. The trademark highlight of a social relationship is that two or more individuals’ direction with one another so that their activity, influence, assessment, or believed are integral. That is, the thing that every individual does bodes well with reference to what alternate persons do (or are relied upon to do or feel): their activities finish one another. Social relations are
While all goods have a general purpose of satisfying the wants and needs of people, specific types of goods hold specialized places within the market and have various unique components. Network goods are one of these. The value of a network good increases when more consumers purchase and use them. This is obvious when noting the definition of network, being a connecting system.
Communication is an integral part of working in the business environment. Individuals communicate various pieces of information to internal and external business stakeholders.The design of an organization should provide for communication in four in distinct directions: downward, upward, horizontal, and diagonal. But we have only discuss about downward communication and upward communication, where downward communication is more prevalent than upward communication in organization. Communication can flow vertically or laterally. The vertical dimension can be further divided into downward and upward direction. Downward communication is more prevalent because in this type of communication, we have to give orders and instructions to our sub-ordinates. So we have to explain each and every step that is going to help in work. But in upward communication they sub-ordinates do not have to give instructions their head.
Organizational structure within an organization is a critical component of the day to day operations of a business. An organization benefits from organizational structure as a result of all it encompasses. It is used to define how tasks are divided, grouped and coordinated. Six elements should be addressed during the design of the organization’s structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, spans of control, centralization and decentralization. These components are a direct reflection of the organization’s culture, power and politics.
Just as anything else, social networks were not born in a day, it slowly developed into what is known in today’s society. In the 70’s, Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) and Usernets were prime communication. BBS is considered the first site that allowed internet users to interact with each other. However, users would have to use a dial-up connection and only one at a time could access the BBS. While Usernets were slightly different. This was a system that allowed users to post articles to newsgroups. Into the 80’s Online Services were created, such as CompuServe, Prodigy and the well-known AOL. These sites simply made the internet “universally accessible in the United States.” Following online services in the late 80’s came Instant Messaging and Chat systems such as Internet Relay Chat, which allowed for sharing links and files. ICQ was also booming around this time, its use was for instant messaging and was “partly” responsible for avatars, emoticons and abbreviations such as LOL and BRB. In 1997 the “first modern social network” Six Degrees was created. This site allowed users to build profiles, and become “friends” with other users. Following Six Degrees were sites such as; BlackPlanet, LiveJournal. World of Warcraft, Friendster, Hi5, LinkedIn, Myspace, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Ins...
Organizational structure is the way that an organization arranges people and jobs so that work can be performed and goals can be achieved. Good organizational design helps communications, productivity, and innovation. Many organization structures have been created based on organizational strategy, size, technology, and environment. Robbins and Judge (2011, p. 504) listed three common structures: simple, bureaucracy, and matrix. In this post the author will describe the matrix structure, and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.
First of all, organizational structure determines the hierarchy, the levels of communication, and how job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated within an organization (Langton, Robbins, & Judge, 2013). There are six key elements that managers need to address when they design their organization’s structure: work specialization, departmentalization, chain of command, span of control, centralization and decentralization, and formalization (Langton et al., 2013). The way in which an organizational structure is constructed and implemented can affect company productivity.
To Begin to understand Social Network theory more deeply, it is important to understand some of the key concepts of the theory. One of the main concepts of this theory is identifying what a network means. A network can be defined as a set of relationships (Dunn, 1983). The simplest kind of network contains two objects, such as two people, and a relationship that links them together. For example, two people that know each other would ...
Marta, C. C., Martínez, E. E., & Sánchez, L. L. (2013). The «i-Generation» and its Interaction in Social Networks. An Analysis of Coca-Cola on Tuenti. Comunicar, 20(40), 41-47. doi:10.3916/C40-2013-02-04
Assigning the precise amount of network capacity in the right place at the right time is no simple task. Network Planners cannot afford to overbuild, as this would consume scarce investment resources that could be better used elsewhere. They also cannot delay expansion as this may result in poor service to customers and under-utilize other network assets. A balanced approach is needed in order to meet the rapidly growing and changing traffic demands. Advanced network planning and design software provides benefit to network planners in the following ways: