A Network of Mistrust: Decision Makers Interact With Peers But Trust Themselves

Karen Stephenson, in a lecture for IT Conversations, refers to a network as a group of people who she can trust enough to talk about her "crazy" ideas that she came up with in the shower. Groups of people who think, talk and walk the same.




[source - Creating Passionate Users Blog]

All inclusive groups, according to Kathy Sierra, are responsible for poor decision making when the group does not value an individual's point of view. Social networks aka cliques are different and do not necessarily responsible for actual decision making.

Let's use Karen's shower idea as an example. When she walks out of that shower, her mind is made up and only she can see her own thoughts. Thinking is a private affair. Another thing to consider is that social cliques are rarely based on hierarchy so if a person in the group disagrees, that member will rarely force a compromise.

When Karen does eventually bring her idea to the All Inclusive Table (aka department meeting) people who are part of this decision making process have the power and the will to force a compromise or if the idea is completely successful, actually implement the plan.

So you see in this situation, a social network did nothing to affect the outcome of the greater plan. It was probably entertaining. What do you think? Are social networks insignificant when it comes to decision making.