Driving Results Through Social Networks

Driving Results Through Social Networks shows executives and managers how to obtain substantial performance and innovation impact by better leveraging these traditionally invisible assets. For the past decade, Rob Cross and Robert J. Thomas have worked closely with executives from over a hundred top-level companies and government agencies. In this groundbreaking book, they describe in-depth how these leaders are using network thinking to increase revenues, lower costs, and accelerate innovation.

Preface ix Acknowledgments xv Introduction xvii Part One: Alignment 1 1. Aligning Networks with Strategic Value Propositions 3 2. Working Through Networks to Align Culture and Strategy 23 Part Two: Execution 41 3. Managing Rapid Innovation Through Effective Networks 43 4. Driving Financial Return Through Network Investments 69 5. Delivering Results Through Process Networks 91 6. Delivering Results Through Project-Based Networks 107 Part Three: Adaptation 129 7. Driving Performance by Replicating High Performers' Networks 131 8. Speeding Productivity in Newcomers and Avoiding Knowledge Drain 159 9. The Road Ahead: Emerging Opportunities for the Network Perspective 181 About the Authors 193 Notes 195 Index 211