I had the great pleasure of leading the external network discussion group at the Network Roundtable meeting this week in Dulles (www.thenetworkroundtable.org ). This organization, led by Rob Cross, has slowly expanded its focus from studying purely internal organizational networks to exploring the valuable knowledge that can be gleaned from learning about external networks – customer networks, donor networks, innovation networks and others. As usual, the meeting was stimulating with many case studies from both the internal and external perspective. The one idea we all agreed on was that some of the greatest value is realized on the boundary – at the intersection points of internal and external networks.
Wendi Backler shared some incredible work she has done with the Boston Consulting Group studying innovation networks and leveraging that knowledge to speed progress toward developing a cure for MS. John Eichert and Bruce West expanded on work their company, Rivermark, has done to understand the role of physician networks in the diffusion of innovations and adoption of new treatments and technologies. Martin Wise discussed a powerful capability that he helped institute within Merrill Lynch to better leverage the relationship capital held within the firm and reaching out to the markets they serve. And Ted Smith gave us a completely new perspective on the power and structure of consumer networks.
I left with so many ideas, and I encourage you to check out the Roundtable website given above to spur your thinking as well….
