Expanding the field of vision

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the emerging business discipline of organizational network analysis and its potential as a tool to guide efforts in creating awareness of where knowledge exists in an organization and how this expertise can be best tapped by an organization's workforce. Specific initiatives and activities that companies are using to promote the changes necessary to ensure that knowledge flows are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The article gives a case example of building a networked organization at MWH Consulting, Broomfield, Colorado, USA.

Findings

When organizational network analysis is accompanied by management practices that encourage, support, and require connectivity, employees more naturally leverage the expertise of peers and counterparts, wherever they live.

Originality/value

The article provides an insight into organizational network analysis and shows the barriers to and signifies the importance of knowledge management.

Citation

Anklam, P., Cross, R. and Gulas, V. (2005), "Expanding the field of vision", The Learning Organization, Vol. 12 No. 6, pp. 539-551. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696470510626748