Developing network insight

Abstract

A challenge facing organizations is that of amalgamating possibilities which do not exist in a transparent and concentrated form, but rather as dispersed individual cognitive 'pictures' perceived by managers embedded in business networks. Based on our research of business networks involving manufacturers of consumer goods, pharmaceutical companies, producers of semiconductors and telecommunication and utility service providers, we propose the concept of network insight, which does not consist merely of extant pictures held by individual managers, but is grounded in the practice of inter-firm exchange. We argue that developing network insight is a managerial challenge encompassing the amalgamation of dispersed pieces of atomized network pictures through heedful, multilateral interactions. Such a managerial activity transcends the task-specific knowledge base of managerial cognition and leads to objectified organizational learning within a business network. Managers that develop insight in business networks are able to mobilize other actors and create a competitive advantage for their organization that is crucial for innovation and growth.

Network picturing: An action research study of strategizing in business networks

“…The framework illustrates the interrelations between established and new structures on the one hand, and changes in of the network or his 'reality' (Henneberg et al, 2006b;Henneberg et al, 2010;Mouzas et al, 2008). Network pictures are seen as a way of representing actors' knowledge of their network, or managers' network theories (Mattsson, 1984(Mattsson, , 1987 helping them not only to make sense of their complex environment, but also to guide their decision-making and influence their managerial behaviour (Cornelissen, 2002;Welch and Wilkinson, 2002).…”

Complaint resolution management expectations in an asymmetric business‐to‐business context

“…It is noteworthy that these findings represent a network insight on the part of the focal and powerful manufacturing companies in our research (Mouzas et al, 2008) Achieving a Solution regarding a complaint incident is of pivotal importance for large companies. For this purpose, our analysis pinpoints the importance of being…”

La gestion de relations asymétriques au sein d’un réseau composite

“…Les nombreuses publications des deux chercheurs (Mouzas, Henneberg et Naudé, 2008 ;Mouzas et Ford, 2007, 2009Ford et Hakansson. 2005 ;Gadde et Ford, 2008 par exemple) se nourrissent des travaux de Pfeffer (1981) et de Pfeffer et Salancik (2003) qui offrent des grilles de lecture riches de l'analyse des relations entre organisations.…”