Management Research
rupali
Week7_L7_MGMT6012.pptx
Module 4 Overview
Activity 1 – Networking is a strength
Module 4 Resources
Activity 2 – Success Coaches
Activity 3 – Facebook or LinkedIn?
Activity 4 – Networking map activity
Module 4 – Networks and Connectedness
You will need to:
Conduct a SWOT Analysis on yourself
Complete at least two self-assessment tools including Gallup StrengthsFinder
Include naturally occurring data about yourself, for example feedback from others
Submit a final report including:
- Introduction (who you are and what has got you to this point)
- Research Methodology (20%)
- SWOT Analysis (30%)
- Diversity (20%)
- Organisational Fit (your fit with the organisation from Assignment One)
- Conclusion (where to now)
The final 30% is allocated to communication – how you communicate and present the report.
Assignment Two – Self Reflection
This module will help you:
Establish your digital profile to enhance your ‘internal value’ in the organisation and ‘external value’ in the labour market place;
Understand the network structure in your organisation and where you fit, and where you want to make connections;
Critically evaluate which external networks and professional connections you want to establish and maintain throughout your career.
This module will cover:
The concept of monetising your time and talent through digital networking;
The networking landscape (both internal and external to your organisation);
Managing your digital profile for maximum effect.
Module 4 – Networks and Connectedness
Module 4 Networking
Networking and being connected, particularly digitally, are new concepts for many managers in organisations, but they are changing the way in which organisations operate. It is rare now to go to a meeting without the other person having ‘googled you’. This means that prior to anyone meeting you they are already drawing conclusions about you from what they find out about you on Google. Linked In and Facebook can make a big impression.
Many organisations now do recruitment searches through Linked In, and often Facebook is used as a pre-reference check for new hires. Public pictures of people embarrassing themselves out socially can put may employers off, so Facebook in particular can be used as a screening process early on.
But networking is not just an individual necessity. Organisations are gradually connecting in new forms of partnerships, peak bodies, collaborative arrangements and professional networks. We are seeing collective member networks support each other in a collaborative manner to help each other achieve success.
Module 4 Networking
In addition there are a range of digital platforms that operate to put people in touch with each other, building their whole business model on the notion of ‘connection’. Air Tasker in Australia is a job board for quick tasks for example, which in the longer term threatens to put the traditional temping agencies out of business.
This module asks you to reflect on the networks you belong to both within and outside of your organisation. In addition, if you look at the networks your organisation belongs to, you can possibly leverage your digital network value even more by ensuring you stay abreast of the professional fields they are engaging in.
Refer to the video featuring Karen Lawson, CEO of Career One, who talks about the need to ‘Monetise your time and talent’ in the career market. Karen spoke about this topic at a recent staff development event at Laureate Australia and we took a video of the presentation. Watch this video first to get a feel for the field before delving into other readings and activities.
YouTube - Rediscovering Personal Networking: Michael Goldberg at TEDxMillRiver (19 minutes)
Reading – Networking for Business Success
Reading – Business Networking can be Taught
Next Week:
Reading - The Contaminating Effects of Building Instrumental Ties: How Networking Can Make Us Feel Dirty
Chapter from Book - Psychodynamics of Social Networking, Aaron Balick (165 pages, Chap 2)
Recommended - Video - Collaborative Consumption and the Future of the Workforce, Karen Lawson (1:09 minutes)
Not discussed – Political campaigning 2.0: the influence of online news & social networking sites on attitudes & behaviour.
Module 4 Resources
Who is good at networking?
Networking is a strength… who would say they are good at networking?
YouTube Video
“Networking is a proactive approach to meeting people to learn with the prospects of helping them”.
Serendipitous Networking (by chance) v Strategic Networking (goal directed)
Five Reasons for Networking:
More Business
Land a Job
To learn something
Social reasons (meet people)
To solve a problem
YouTube Video
Execution of Good Networking:
PEEC:
Profession – who you are, what you do and with whom
Expertise – your depth of knowledge as it relates to your profession/future profession
Environment – your target market place – an industry, profession, a market segment
Call to action – what is it that you are after – I want or can you…
Networking for Business Success
“Networking is the process of establishing, developing, maintaining and utilising business relationships, in order to create opportunities for the benefit of all those in the network”.
→ mutual benefit, not personal gain
→ making connections, developing relationships
→ focus on the other person (listening)
→ do not force the relationship, see what naturally develops
→ e-networking has a role to play but face-to-face will outlast any other method.
Learning Activity 1
Profiling Activity
There are many global networking sites such as Facebook, some of which are used more for professional purposes than others.
In Australia, LinkedIn is pretty big, as it is in the UK. Go into one of these sites and search through some people’s profiles.
What do you think makes a good profile and a not so good one?
Design your profile and upload it to start getting connected.
or
The mission of LinkedIn is to connect professionals to be more productive and successful.
Facebook have been focused on connecting people with family and friends and launched a new mission in 2017 - Give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.
LinkedIn is viewed in Australia as the ‘business network’ with 1 million profiles.
Globally, LinkedIn has 500m individual profiles, 7 million company profiles and 2 billion updates per week.
Ben Eatwell, Head of Marketing (Australia):
We help professionals with three things:
Professional identity (brand)
Networks
Knowledge (100,000 articles published per week)
Three essentials for a LinkedIn profile:
A professional photo
A summary of yourself (in the first person)
A list of experiences and highlights (a niche package)
Business Networking can be Taught
Business Networking:
“A collection of people, preferably with a broad array of experience and knowledge, to which an individual is connected and with which the individual is in periodic contact”.
Ideally, any member of this network would answer an email request for help within 24 hours – one does not have a network unless the people in it come through when the need arises.
Numbers on Facebook or LinkedIn do not count – it is a more personal relationship, usually involving at least one face-to-face meeting.
A business network includes both internal and external people.
Business Networking can be Taught
Why Business Networking important:
Business is more complex
Organisations become larger, more international
Structures are more complicated
Jobs have evolved, roles are more fluid
More external parties (stakeholders) interact with the business
Our knowledge needs increase and we need people to supply information.
Business Networking can be Taught
The benefits of Business Networking:
Less reinvention of the wheel (sharing of best practice)
Alignment of people or units (strengths?)
The need to make fast, accurate decisions (efficiency)
Networking therefore is not a waste of time – it helps people to focus on important tasks, align effort, and get the job done faster.
Business Networking can be Taught
Successful Business Networking has also been linked to:
Salary growth
Increased promotions
Perceived career success
Job satisfaction
Production of creative ideas.
Business Networking can be Taught
Networking is a skill that can be developed. The skills needed are:
Figure out who should be in your network (be purposeful – not just lunch!)
Dare to introduce yourself (be courageous)
Ask for help (be courageous)
Networking must be reciprocal (be purposeful – it is a two-way street)
Successful managers allocate one hour per week maintaining their networks.
Networking and Leaders
Usually rise through the ranks being a SME in their field ( Expert power)
When challenged with strategic issues facing the overall business, managers do not grasp this as involving relational tasks, further,
Managers do not understand that interactions with different stakeholders are not distractions from their real work but forms an integral part of their new leadership role
Many managers find networking insincere and manipulative
Some construct and maintain a useful network, others struggle to come out of this innate resistance. Effective leaders employ networking for strategic purposes
Learning Activity 2
Networking map activity
Draw a network map of yourself in your organisation. Who do you connect with and for what purposes? Who connects to you and for what purposes? If you had the opportunity to extend your map, who would you want to connect with and for what purposes? Share your map with your group and compare the flows in your organisation. Amend your map if you want to in light of seeing others.
This network map can be used to underpin your SWOT analysis (Assessment Two).
Select 3 nodes on your network and draw down evidence from them that gives you feedback on your strengths and/or weaknesses.
