Organizational networking: In the age of communication and information technology, organizations are faced with new challenges and opportunities. Improving the performance of the organization, increasing cooperation and interaction between members, flexibility in decision-making and high productivity of resources, are all the most important goals that organizations seek. These goals are usually addressed using hierarchical and central structures in organizations.
But in recent decades, new approaches in organizational design have been noticed, which are based on organizational networking. In this approach, the organization is considered as a network of communication and relationships between members and different departments. Also, to read more articles about business organization, you can refer to the articles page.
What is Organizational Networking?
Organizational networking is an approach in organizational design that focuses on interactions and communications between members and different departments of the organization. In this approach, the organization is considered as a complex system of relationships, networks, and communications, which realize coordination, cooperation, and flexibility among members.
Organizational networking focuses on the hypothesis that to create an efficient and effective organization, only hierarchical and centralized structure is not enough. Rather, people’s communication, people’s interactions with other parts of the organization and the formation of work and social networks within the organization play a very important role in the performance and success of the organization. Therefore, the main goal of organizational networking is to create and strengthen relationships and communication networks between members and different departments.
In this approach, factors such as sharing knowledge and information, sharing resources, sharing power and sharing decision-making are considered as key factors in creating organizational networks. The members of the organization in these networks can share information with each other, cooperate and coordinate, and work as a group to solve problems and challenges.
Benefits of Organizational Networking
By using organizational networking, organizations are able to realize capabilities that cannot be achieved by hierarchical and centralized structures. These abilities include:
Flexibility and Adaptability:
Structural networking provides the possibility of changing and adapting the organization to environmental conditions. With strong connections and networks, the organization can easily respond to changes and new needs and increase the speed of its performance.
Creating Added Value:
Organizational networking creates and shares knowledge and information among members. This leads to an increase in the power of creativity and innovation in the organization and improves business processes and creates added value for the organization.
Increasing Cooperation and Interaction:
Organizational networking facilitates cooperation and interaction between people and different departments. This cooperation and interaction improves internal communication, solves problems as a group and increases the motivation and participation of members.
Increasing Speed and Efficiency:
By achieving organizational networking, the organization will be able to perform activities with high speed and more productivity. Sharing resources, information and decision-making in a distributed manner allows for optimal use of resources and reduction of waiting times.
Creating Direct Connections:
Structural networking creates directly between members and different departments of the organization. This direct communication allows for quick and accurate transfer of information and knowledge and avoids dependence on hierarchy and the need to go through intermediate steps.
Power and Decision-making:
In organizational networking, members have the permission and possibility to make decisions independently, which increases the commitment and responsibility of members.
Structural networking as a new approach in organizational design emphasizes the importance of interactions, communications and networks between members. By creating a network environment in the organization, this approach can improve the performance, increase the effectiveness and capability of the organization.
Increasing the Power of Creativity and Innovation:
By creating a culture of cooperation and interaction, the organization takes advantage of the extensive knowledge and experience of its members. This leads to a dynamic and creative environment where people can easily propose new ideas and encourage innovation.
Increasing Organizational Capability:
With organizational networking, the possibility of interaction and cooperation between different departments and people is provided. This facilitates the improvement of business processes, the sharing of knowledge and information, the sharing of resources and optimal decision-making, and improves the organization’s capability.
Increasing Effectiveness and Efficiency:
Organizational networking facilitates direct and documented communication between members, which leads to doing things more accurately, reducing repetition and mistakes, and increasing productivity in processes. Also, sharing knowledge and experiences leads to optimal use of resources and facilities of the organization.
Increasing Communication and Relationships between Members:
With organizational networking, communication between members is strengthened and relationships between departments and people are improved. This helps to create a positive work environment, increase interaction and support the solidarity and belonging of the members to the organization. By increasing communication and positive relationships, members feel that they are part of a network and have a direct impact on the success of the organization. This increases job satisfaction, motivation and active participation of members in organizational activities.
Creating the Ability to Respond to Changes:
With organizational networking, the organization is able to react faster and respond to environmental changes and customer needs. Strong communication infrastructures and active collaboration networks make the organization more adaptable and adaptable.
Development of Business Opportunities:
Organizational networking can create new opportunities for cooperation, interaction with business partners, market growth and development of new technologies. Through networking with external organizations and individuals, the possibility of sharing resources and access to new opportunities for the organization is improved.
How to Do Organizational Networking
Organizational networking may be implemented in different ways in the organization, but below I will mention some general principles and methods for organizational networking:
Identification and Analysis of Network Structure:
First, the existing network structure in the organization should be identified and analyzed. This includes identifying relationships and connections between members, existing hierarchies, and communication processes. With this analysis, the strengths and weaknesses of the network structure are identified.
Encouraging Cooperation and Interaction:
For organizational networking, you need to encourage members to collaborate and interact within the organization. This can include creating an organizational culture based on collaboration, sharing knowledge and information, using effective communication techniques, and creating interactive opportunities such as work groups and team workshops.
Creating Communication Networks:
The organization can create communication networks formally or informally. This includes the creation of cross-departmental working groups, processes of cooperation and interaction within the organization, organizing seminars and conferences to exchange knowledge and experiences.
Use of Information Technology:
Information technology and modern tools such as knowledge management systems, group systems, collaborative software and internal social networks can help organizational networking. These tools provide the possibility to create and share knowledge and information, facilitate communication and enable members to cooperate and interact better with each other.
Formation of Mixed Teams:
For organizational networking, you can form mixed teams with diverse members and skills. These teams can be formed from different departments of the organization and work in cooperation and interaction to solve specific problems and projects in the organization.
Creating Networking Opportunities:
Holding events, meetings and conferences in which members of the organization are in contact with each other and provides an opportunity for networking and communication. These opportunities allow members to get to know each other, share ideas and experiences, and make meaningful connections.
Management Support:
For the success of organizational networking, the support and commitment of managers is very important. Managers should promote a culture of collaboration and interaction, facilitate the creation of networking opportunities, and change the organizational structure in such a way that networking and collaboration are everyday activities of the organization.
Up to Sum
Structural networking can significantly help to improve the organization’s performance and performance. By establishing strong communication and interaction between members, the organization will be able to better exploit its internal knowledge and experience, increase speed and efficiency in processes, develop innovation and improve effectiveness. In short, organizational networking creates a dynamic, creative organization capable of adapting to environmental changes. This increases the performance and productivity of the organization, develops innovation and sustainable growth. Stay with the specialists of Uprodemy website to get business advice and international trade.
