I read this article from the most recent magazine of  MIT Sloan Management Review called, Why Project Networks Beat Project Teams.  It discusses that based on their research, "the project network, is an important tool for accomplishing knowledge-intensive work."

As explained by MIT Sloan Management Review, "a project network is most beneficial for accomplishing knowledge-intensive work. Typically, project networks consist of a core set of team members who bring in noncore contributors (such as other company employees, suppliers, consultants or customers) from their personal networks who can provide knowledge, information and feedback regarding the team’s task. The project network thus takes advantage of both the project team as a whole and the personal networks of the members.

Unlike a project team that relies only on the knowledge held by members or a personal network that individuals use to solve their individual problems, the project network combines the knowledge held by the members of a team with the problem-solving capabilities of the team members’ personal networks to achieve a project goal. The integration of project team members’ knowledge with the capabilities from their personal networks is what differentiates a project network from other kinds of individual and team-based work."

I recommend registering for free and reading the whole article which is only about two pages for a better understanding of project networks and the research behind it. Click here> http://sloanreview.mit.edu/the-magazine/2011-spring/52307/why-project-networks-beat-project-teams/

What is your opinion on project networks; do you see it as a beneficial strategy, or not?

Have you used this strategy with your projects?

Was was the outcome?

Shane Perkins

U of M 2010 

Management Info. Systems

U of M: MSBA Student 2011 Fall