Dont know how to read a network diagram? Heres Help

As seen in my last post networks can be very useful in a business and should be used often...Except when looking at these diagrams it can be difficult...

At the first look a network diagram can be very confusing...What are all those lines, names, who gets connected to who? Who is that lonely person all by himself...Why is he there what is his purpose?

It all starts out with those lines that there seem to be so many of...The arrows represent the flow of information between people or groups...AND yes the directions of those arrows actually do mean something....When the arrow is going towards the person it means they are a source of information and when the arrow goes away from there name it means they are looking to the other person for information....

Ever want to be that person who everyone comes to? be the center of that group of people which seems without you it will fail...Well that's true in a network that Central person will all the lines going to....He links all divisions in the company...and without him the company fails

Ever fell all alone on the outside? As in life networks have these people also called peripheral people...These people are on the outside who nobody comes to...Although these people also hold a key part to the network being out there for reasons like family or these people can be out there for the lack of work skills.... Rob Cross further explains how networks can show managers what people are costing there companies money and shows who may be further outside then they thought...

With different divisions in a business sub groups are formed...Groups that link together with one person contributing to the group as a whole...




Cross goes on to show how managers can see other networks that they might not see everyday...By tracking emails companies can now find out exact paths of information and use this to make there business even better...Companies can now find out who may be over worked and causing a drop in work potential and find ways to get them back to there top...With people doing less work a company can see what there problems are and help them to succeed...Cross said "People who are stuck on the edge of a network are three times more likely then people better-connected to leave the company" this shows the importance for companies to understand there networks and fix the errors

Networks and how they help business?...Or do They?....

Social Networks are being used more and more everyday...Social networks now lets higher managers who through promotions have left the work floor the ability to see how these areas are working...Analyzing social networks for companies show upper management where resources are how they are used and where might they be needed...Why do business need to use social networks? The answer can vary by person but it shows companies are more productive when analyzing and using that information they gather from social networks....Is this answer enough for every company to use them?..Social Networks can be linked with many users that also help business realize problems...While looking at a social network upper management can see who is the center and that hero who no one thought was important but without them there company would be nothing or that person who has so much responsibilities there slowing down the company and those who are just holding the network together who's positions might be Small and on the outside but without them the company would be nothing....In the end computer networks have the same principles...linking two or more people, companies, sections, tasks etc. together through a common bond...How will comparing your social network make you a better person, Friend, and student?

My first post a little introduction

Hi my name is Jordan i am a student at American University in Washington DC...I am taking a class in social networking...On my honor all of the blog posts i make are my own feelings and are done on my own with out help from outside sources.