Understanding

Local Networks
A network is a group of
people whom we interact
daily. Our relationships
are networked. If you look
at nature, networks are
everywhere. The cellular
network in the human
brain, for instance, is an
amazing network that
makes human life
But what are networks?
Networks are a ‘set of
nodes and set of ties’
(Brass, 1994: 42). The
things that are connected
are usually called nodes.
A node might be a
person, a computer or
even a hyperlinked text.
The connections
between hubs are
called “associations”
and here and there
called “edges”. They
are relations that
bind the tie or even
make the ties suffer.
• It is imperative for
leaders and managers
to precisely see the
system relations that
associate individuals
and to effectively
oversee them.
Awareness concerning
social networks is
important to the extent
• It is a means of
developing contact
and exchange of
information. It
provides us the
opportunity to interact
with people outside of
our regular social
circle. It is vital also to
Networks are analyzed in
terms of density,
hierarchy, multiplexity,
interdependence and
embeddedness (Kilduff
and Tsal, 2003, pp.3off).
1. Density-  The density of a network
is based on the number of
connections between and among the
actors. According to Kilduf and Tsai,
the higher the number, the denser the
system.The density of a network
depicts the potential associations in a
system that are genuine associations
while a potential connection is an
association that could possibly exists
between two “hubs” paying little
respect to regardless of whether it
2. Hierarchy- Actors in the network
can pull their investments in social
relations by establishing relations
with a diverse set of groups in the
community (preferably groups that
are not connected to each other),
rather than establishing all of their
relationships with members of one
group.
3. Complexity- Complexity is the
extent to which a link between actors
served a multiplicity of interests in
the community. The more complex
relations have considered have
higher tie strength. Complexity also
represents the extent to which two
people are bound to each other in
different social grounds.
4. Interdependence- The ties in the
network can be useful in facilitating
change and reform. The
interdependence of social ties in a
community produces benefits for actors
and members. Interdependence
facilitates cooperation and creates social
capital necessary for the progress of the
community. Social capital is the
accumulated benefits as a result of the
maintenance of a positive relationship
between different groups and
associations in the community.
5. Embeddedness- The networks
of relations within each person is
rooted include family, friends, and
acquaintances. To be sure,
business associations themselves
are held together by formal
relations of power as well as by
casual connections that interface
individuals crosswise over
departmental and progressive
limits.