DC Chap 6 SOCIAL NETWORKING

SEEKING DIVERSITY: Building the skill set we absolutely need requires a willingness to seek out diversity and a commitment to?

follow through when opportunities to learn and grow arise / we can be proactive and create those opportunity online

In some cultures, networks are governed by guanxi, a mutually beneficial relationship between people in which an individual can be called upon to return a favor. Like social capital guanxi involves?

social relations

When we communicate online, these forms of communication (nonverbal) are not typically available; hence, we use certain symbols or emoticons to express any number of feelings. Different social norms govern how we communicate, whether we are interacting face-to-face, telephone, messages, or social networks. Another difference relates to the speed and scale of communication. Unlike face-to-face, saying something online can?

spread virally in seconds. Moreover, an online message is permanent and forever available for public consumption

It is helpful to map the relationships among individuals, indicating the various ways in which they are connected. Social network theory uses the terms nodes and ties to describe relationships. Nodes refer to individuals who share connections in a network, while ties refer to the connections themselves. When we talk about diversity in any type of social network, we are?

talking about nodes, ties and the situational context in which these relationships take effect

STRONG AND WEAK TIES: Ties vary in terms of strength. Strong ties, are generally close and frequently maintained; while weak ties are more distant and less intimate, infrequently maintained and extend to more different social circles. We increasingly use Facebook to maintain strong, close ties w/ people whom we have met in person. Generally, strong ties?

tend to be more redundant, generating less diverse information

Online social networking, enhanced by diversity consciousness, provides us w/ indispensable tools to help us crawl out of the cultural silo that isolate us and curtail our opportunities. Harvard research shows a trend toward greater diversity and cultural encapsulation in the U.S. Putnam's conclusion?

that as our communities have become more diverse, people tend to disconnect and "hunker down"/ people are more inclined to avoid and distrust their neighbors, and even friends, volunteer less, show less faith in leaders, and less inclined to believe they can effect change and make a difference in the world

Trust can develop through weak as well as strong ties. Bill Gates, talks about a concept called "trilogy of trust" By this he means?

that trust is passed on through networking / Faith asks if you know anyone who is great at Excel. You indicate Subash is an Excel expert. The trust Faith has in you is immediately transferred to Subash, a third party whom she has never met

Informal Social Networks and Career Advancement: In their book Our Separate Ways Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity, the authors found that business decisions become more dependent on relationships, especially as those relationships grow and strengthen. Also, Bell and Nkomo point to?

the continuing influence of informal "old boy networks", exclusive networks by which men who share a similar socioeconomic background use their power to help others like them Women and minorities may advance, but not by breaking down this barrier, they find a way around it. Men were more likely to use networking to find jobs, while women resorted to classified ads

DEGREE AND DEGREES OF SEPARATION: Degree, refers to the number of ties we have w/ other individuals or a collectivity. Degrees of separation, is a measure of social distance. We are one degree or tie away from people we know, two degrees away from people they know, and so forth. If people are closely connected, meaning they can be reached in relatively few steps or ties?

the implications are significant

MAXIMIZING SOCIAL CAPITAL: Diverse ties allow us to maximize our social capital. Psychological, social, and economic resources flow from social networks and create opportunities for individuals and orgs. As we get to know a larger circle of people different from ourselves, ?

the more likely it is that we will have access to an increasingly wide range of resources

The term homophily, which literally means "love of the same", is?

the tendency to limit our networks to people who share similar backgrounds and values, who work in similar jobs, who live close by, and have similar contacts

Dr. Ivan Misner, the father of modern networking, explains the rationale behind diversifying ones personal network. Doing so increases the likelihood of connectors in our network or linchpins. The overlapping interests or connections of linchpins allow?

them to easily link people w/ diverse backgrounds, talents, and information

EDUCATION AND DIVERSE NETWORKS: Education is the best predictor of a diverse social network. Also, more highly educated people are apt to work and live in a greater variety of social contexts. Because people w/ more education tend to have more economic and social resources, ?

they can afford to be more mobile and spend more time cultivating and nourishing local and global contacts

During the 21st century, our success in many realms hinges on our ability to gain knowledge through a variety of sources. In all societies and particularly in a digital society such as the U.S., knowledge is power; Therefore, ?

those w/ limited access to knowledge are at a distinct disadvantage

EXPANDING THE DIVERSITY OF ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS: Expanding and transforming our networks to be more diverse and powerful takes?

time, effort, and a willingness to venture outside of our comfort zone

Whether we are connecting online or face-to-face, starting and maintaining relationships requires ?

time, effort, and focus /especially w/ all of our roles and obligations

Findings from a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com speak to the value of online identity management. Of those hiring managers surveyed, ?

1 in 4 makes use of search engines in screening candidates, and 1 in 10 checks profiles of candidates on various social networking sites

STRATEGIES FOR MAXIMIZING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NETWORKS: ?

1. assess the diversity of your social networks, both online and offline 2. develop ties w/ people who tend to disagree w/ you about work-related or contemporary social issues, and coworkers who span different generations 3. connect w/ people who appear to have very little in common w/ you 4. expose yourself to social networks and media that broaden your global perspective and expose you to cutting edge, innovative ideas 5. join groups, associations, and communities that make you feel like an outsider 6. question and critically evaluate the thinking and assumptions of all people in your social networks

The Diversity of Facebook: In comparison to other social networks, Facebook has by far the largest number of active users through the world. In the U.S., research suggests that social network users of Facebook?

1. tend to be more trusting 2. get more social support (including emotional, companionship, and instrumental aid) and 3. are more politically engaged (significantly more inclined to vote)

CROSS CULTURAL GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA:

1.When introducing yourself to others be more formal than usual 2. research ahead of time online 3. avoid acronyms, idioms, and slang, unless you explain them 4. learn "safe" topics of discussion, no religion/politics 5. be mindful of how you present yourself online 6. be humble 7. respect and engage individuals and their cultures 8. manners matter 9. commit to learn 1 or 2 new key words and phrases each day

When we network across cultures, our communication style can be of paramount importance. For example, in the U.S., initial contact in multicultural networking is likely to take the form of text messaging, e-mail, or talking by phone. This mode of communication does not resonate w/ people from certain cultures who prefer to meet face to face and build a sense of trust before getting down to business. For example?

Asian and Latino cultures attach more importance to developing relationships at the beginning of a project or collaboration, w/ task completion coming later, whereas European-Americans are more apt to engage in task completion at the onset or earlier in the process, and let relationships develop as they complete the task

The internet has revolutionized social networking. In the 21st century, growth in the number of internet users throughout the world has been rapid and uneven. At present, 1/3rd of the world's population uses the internet. INTERNET PENETRATION RATE, or the % of a regions total population that uses the internet, varies widely, from roughly 79% in North America to 16% in Africa. What is the most common languages used on the internet?

English and Chinese

As we move from one relationship to another, we may engage in

Impression Management- tweaking our appearance and changing how we act in order to influence how different people see us. /online we may consciously/unconsciously project a certain image in order to make a good first impression (might entail sharing goals or dislikes, linking ourselves to certain friends, posting pictures that provide insight into our personalities)

Those individuals who cross over between clusters of individuals or groups?

Linchpins

Meaning how we showcase ourselves to the world online, is an increasingly important component of social networking?

Online Identity Management / It has been said that "googling" one's name is the equivalent of a modern-day resume

CHANGING DYNAMICS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING: The study of changes in societies and cultures over time, provides a more historical, macro-level perspective on social networking?

Sociocultural evolution

SKILLS: Anyone can become a more effective social networker by developing their diversity consciousness in addition to their digital skills. These include communicating, managing conflict, teaming, and leading in such a way that everyone feels valued and respected. All of these skills are invaluable online and offline. Daily interactions present us w/?

a plethora of opportunities to learn, develop, and refine these competencies. Furthermore, we can expand and leverage the diversity of our online social networks by assuming diversity, seeking diversity, and leveraging diversity

If guanxi exists, failure to reciprocate at some point in time is considered?

a serious and even unforgivable offense

TRUST: The viability and usefulness of a tie may hinge on trust. Members of a social network who trust each other are more apt to be open and honest and listen to each other. We trust people when we assume they have our best interests at heart. This might mean disagreeing w/ someone even when it is difficult to do, or pushing and challenging certain individuals in our social network to assert themselves in a specific situation or acknowledge their shortcomings. In some instances,?

a tie based on trust might allow us to be brutally honest even to the point of risking conflict

As we discuss social networking, it is important to?

adopt a global perspective and be mindful of worldwide opportunities and disparities among different countries and populations

As we network, it helps to be mindful of different approaches to knowing, or how we gain information and make sense of the world around us. From one cultural perspective, addressing a problem in the community may call for sharing resources and info online. Other might prefer?

an approach that is more experimental, such as visiting places in the community and elsewhere in order to get a better feel for what solutions might work best

Our awareness of our own diversity and the type pf people we choose to include in our networks help explain the self we construct and portray on the internet and the connection we seek to build. Clearly, our social networks are?

an extension of who we are and how we view the world around us. For example, we may assume our network is diverse because it includes men/women of varying races, religions, and ethnicities, but perhaps lacks international contacts and resources, or people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and political ideologies

Students in the U.S. and Korea use social networking site for the same reasons, namely, to seek friends, and fine social support, entertainment, and information. However, Korean students are much more apt to include existing relationships in their online social networks, such as family, friends, and others who are socially close. U.S. students?

are more likely to look for new friends online, while family and friends constitute a much smaller part of their online network

ASSUMING DIVERSITY: When we engage in social networking, we should assume our audience is diverse in ways we might not realize. What we share w/ one member of our social network could?

at some point be shared w/ others. Assuming diversity means questioning certain labels and assumptions

Data on more than 2M conversations indicate that the vast majority 75% of conversations in the U.S. are still face to face. Less than 10% of the conversations occur online. Keller and Faye found that the increasing popularity of social media, such as Facebook, ?

comes at the expense of e-mail rather than face to face

Bonding has value. It allows us to interact w/ people w/ whom we can identify and relate. However when taken to it extreme,?

bonding can delay our personal growth and intellectual development

Strong and Weak Ties-When we consider that most positions are found on the "hidden" job market since they are not advertised publicly, ?

both strong and weak ties provide crucial resources

KEY DIVERSITY ISSUES IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING: In order to understand the dynamics and importance of online social networking, it is helpful to?

explore diversity issues such as identity tourism, digital divides, and online microaggressions

Increasingly, scholars in many different disciplines are looking into the cultures of different sites, and their effects on a number of social issues including, privacy, power, philanthropy, generational differences, education, identity, and conflict. The culture of sites which is shaped in part by their target demographic, may have broad appeal or strong ties. Also,?

communication tools such as blogging, mobile connectivity, link sharing, and photo/video sharing, serve to distinguish sites as well

Traditionally, part of social networking requires tailoring one's message to fit a particular situation, being aware that what we say, how we say it, and how we present ourselves may be appropriate for one setting but not another. A presentation at work or at a conference may be posted online; making it available to a variety of audiences, in a variety of contexts. Consequently, ?

constantly assuming diversity allows us to take this into account ahead of time and tweak our presentation accordingly

When we interact online or offline, diversity consciousness serves to?

counter "cultural cruise control", the tendency to assume other cultures mirror ours. Cultural cruise control undermines our efforts to network effectively

Social networking is a skill that each of us can?

develop, improve, and refine

BRIDGING AND BONDING: In research on social capital, a distinction is made between bridging and bonding. Bridging, is the development of ties w/ people who are dissimilar to us in important ways. (different generation or political ideology). Bonding refers to?

development of ties w/ people who are similar to us in some important way, be it age, gender, race, religion, or some other dimension of diversity one does not necessarily develop at the expense of the other, rather we can have an abundance of ties that take the form of bridging or bonding

We might use social networking for any number of reasons; to get a job, look for a date, uncover info about family background/culture, or maybe to look into pros/cons of some medicine. A recent poll of U.S. and Canadian workers reveals that?

direct, person-to-person networking remains the most effective way to land a new job / online social networking often works hand in hand w/ traditional networking; namely direct personal contact To maximize chances for success, job candidates should use as many different approaches as possible

Changes in the cultural landscape in the U.S. and beyond, along w/ the continuing uncertainty brought about by economic, political, and environmental developments, have made it clear that the ability to connect and form relationships w/ people from all walks of life is an absolutely essential part of any skill set today.

diversity conscious social networking makes this possible

LEVERAGING DIVERSITY: Besides assuming and seeking diversity, we need to take advantage of it. We might interact w/ a structurally diverse network. Because of diverse organizational affiliations, job positions and functions, and educational backgrounds, members of this network can expose us to many different sources of knowledge. Hence,?

diversity of this nature provides us w/opportunities to engage and learn from a heterogeneous group of people /it does not ensure that meaningful interaction will take place. In such an environment, we might stay to ourselves or gravitate to our own kind

THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF NETWORKING: Any and all types of social networking take place in a social context, the environment of people, relationships, and cultures that surround us. Social networking involves creating connections w/ others, including strangers. Sociologist distinguish between social networks and groups. Unlike groups, networks?

do not necessarily share a common sense belonging or a common identity; nor do they necessarily interact on a regular basis. If you think of family and friends as groups, think of a social network as extending far beyond these groups. They may know us, but we may not know them

Bridging social capital promotes critical thinking, (people who are independent thinkers and adopt a variety of political ideologies will test and strengthen our critical thinking skills). In addition, we are less likely to experience a phenomenon known as?

echo chamber- a situation in which like minded members of online communities echo our opinions and beliefs / echo chamber serves to reinforce our cultural biases and stifle critical thought in addition to perspective taking

Certain pay-off of networking are latent, or not readily apparent. Consider the emotional pay-offs of networking. Goleman, in his book Social Intelligences: The New Science of Human Relationships, discusses how people in our social network can actually affect our emotional state of being. In effect, Goleman is making the argument that?

emotional states, whether they are positive/negative, can be contagious. Furthermore, social networking can improve our quality of life and our health- senior citizens who network online may be less prone to depression and loneliness

Leveraging diversity requires being willing and able to step outside of ourselves. This critical component of diversity consciousness?

enables us to engage and strive to understand diverse, even seemingly contradictory perspectives, and learn from them

Two types of homophily. Status Homophily, individuals who possess a similar social status or position are more likely to associate and bond w. each other, while Value Homophily, ?

explains our tendency to associate w/ others who think like us and share our values

ONLINE AND FACE-TO-FACE NETWORKING: Communicating online or face-to-face significantly alters how we connect w/ each user. And both are intertwined. The internet makes it possible ?

for people's networks to be much larger and more diverse. We can interact at any time across economic, political, cultural, and geographic borders. And because online communication is asynchronous, we do not have to adjust to others' schedules

As translation tech. continues to develop in the years ahead, more and more people will be able to use their language of choice to be understood. Direct translation, however,?

frequently distort meaning

A mutually beneficial relationship between people in which an individual can be called upon to return a favor. It is rooted in the cultivation of interpersonal relationships over a period of time?

guanxi

The number of ties we have is indeed important. More ties can result in more info and, more importantly, diverse sources of info. However, increasing the number of our ties does not necessarily result in stronger or more "quality" contacts. Equally,?

if not more important, are the people w/ whom we connect, and how they ties us to individuals, communities, and cultures

Social capital is one of the main drivers behind professional networks throughout the world. If I ask a favor of a contact, I am spending social capital. Now that person may ask me a favor. Typically this type of interaction takes place?

in a socially friendly context /given this exchange, we might not want to ask too much of one person if we have not built up that much social capital

Expanding and diversifying our connections through networking?

involves awareness, understanding, and skills

In order to understand better the interplay among members of a network?

it is helpful to examine how ties vary

Hoffman, author of The Start-Up for You- talks about being aware of what you already have going for you. this includes your networks. "If you want to build a strong network that will help you move ahead in your career, ?

it is vital to first take stock of the connections you already have."

The internet affords more opportunities to interact w/ more people and more diverse people. In digital societies, computer technology has dramatically expanded and reshaped people's social networks. Technology changes the way we use social networks to?

learn, adapt, make choices, and deal w/ personal and social problems

Putnam's study focuses on face to face social networks we develop in our neighborhoods. perhaps membership in clubs and orgs. have been replaced in part by social ties we make and develop on sites. In contrast to strong, community-oriented ties,?

many online tie may be weak and geographically dispersed

With the internet and smartphones, individuals can reach out to more people and more different people in a variety of ways. Because their networks extend outwards, some of us can reach large numbers of people very easily. We tell our friends, who in turn inform others, and everyone is in the know. Other people; however,?

may have a much more difficult time being heard because the range of their connections is limited /perhaps these people have quite a few friends but their networks overlap to a considerable degree

Building close ties w/ people who are different from us can promote tolerance and trust over time. Through social networking, initial feelings of discomfort and disengagement w/ people who seem unlike us can give way to more trust and a greater awareness of our similarities. Individuals whom we feel we can trust?

may provide us w/ a good "sounding board", especially w/ regard to sensitive issues / Asking members of our social network whom we trust might provide us w/ greater understanding of this comment and impact

The cultures that distinguish SNS'S vary considerably and attract different people. As an example, adults who are more educated and have large social networks already in place are ?

more apt to use Twitter and LinkIn/ while many sites support pre-existing connections, others bring strangers together on the basis of their common interests, identities, or activities

Effective social networking is driven by our awareness of commonalities and differences in ?

motivation, communication, and culture

Men like women are?

multidimensional / Their gender is only one aspect of their diversity

People in a network may be distinguished by their intellectual, demographic, and cultural differences. A pair of individuals (nodes) may share one relation, such as coworkers in an org., or they share a?

multiplex tie, meaning many relations. For instance two individuals can be coworkers or best friends. Or coworkers who are members of the same task force at work as well as travel companions when they attend conferences constitute a multiplex tie as well

Meaning the honor or respect society attaches to certain positions?

occupational prestige

Research shows that weak ties or acquaintances can be a valuable source?

of new ideas, resources, and information because they typically connect us w/ people who spend time in social circles that we do not frequent

Unlike traditional media, social media is interactive, allowing users to generate content and communicate. Examples, blogs, online personal journals in which authors share their thoughts and feelings to which people can respond, wikis, collaboratively built sites of info that allow users to add or change the content, and discussion boards, ?

online "bulletin boards" where an ever-growing number of members may comment and discuss issues amongst themselves sites such as Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn may be used to facilitate conversations about personal life experiences, opinions, and perspectives

CROSS CULTURAL GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING: Respect and engage individuals and their cultures, In so doing?

other people are more likely to appreciate your acceptance of them, and value what you bring to the relationship

Related to social networking: Developing a global perspective enhances?

our self-awareness and open up opportunities for networking and learning

Social networking may have negative connotations. Some employers mistakenly equate social networking w/ socializing that has little if anything to do w/ work, or the personal relationships we engage in our "own time." While we connect w/ others for personal reasons, connections pervade the workplace, and time spent networking can?

pay short/long-term dividends and help employees do the job better and more efficiently

DIGITAL NATIVES: Digital natives, younger people born or raised during the age of digital technologies, are "native speakers" of the language of computers, video games, and the internet. On the other hand, Digital immigrants, are?

people who were not born into the digital world but learned the language and the new technology later in life / their lives have been transformed by technology

Numerous studies show a significant relationship between our lifetime income and the nature of our social networks. In essence, social networks?

play a significant role in hiring, professional success, and job performance

Researchers at Pew Internet have developed a tool to measure the diversity of our social networks. Pew asks whether they know anyone in 22 different occupations, including CEO, nurse, teacher, janitor, police, vary widely in terms of their occupational prestige. 1-100, U.S. ave=42 (LinkIn 47, Twitter 42, Facebook 39, MySpace 37. Analysis of these differences?

points to the characteristics of users who gravitate to different sites

Data from Keller and Faye's study show that face to face conversations are generally more?

positive and perceived to be more credible than online /when online, what is considered to be "cool" is more apt to influence conversations. On the other hand, face to face are more apt to deal w/ real life experiences

A study by Deirdre Royster, examined Black and White men who were all graduates of the same vocational school, looking for the same kinds of jobs. White men did significantly better in finding employment, in large part due to their contacts. While awareness and understanding of our networks does not "level the playing field" by any means these components of diversity consciousness,?

provide the foundation for creating and strengthening relationships that open doors and allow us to build an impressive resume

Suppose we want to learn more about Indonesia, specifically Indonesians who have moved to the U.S. Also of interest to us are Indonesian expressions, proverbs, and catchphrases, and what topics should be broached if someone travel to Indonesia. We could?

reach out to neighbors, coworkers or acquaintances, or we might join an online networking group or create one / also virtual pen pals

According to social capital research, people in our network who feel positively toward us represents an important resource. Furthermore, people who occupy different positions can provide us w/ different resources. As an example, people in powerful and prestigious positions have?

resources tied to their authority and their personal and professional networks. people in low status positions have unique talents, insights, and life experiences as well

Building diverse professional networks require us to?

seek people who broaden and complement our skills and backgrounds

Those actual and potential interpersonal resources embedded in our social networks?

social capital

As societies have become more modernized and complex, social networks have grown larger and more global. The expansion of these networks has come about in large part due to technological innovations in communications and travel, along w/ ?

social media, or online tools and sites that allow people to network. Diversity conscious social networking allows us to more effectively navigate and engage these global networks

A web of connections or ties that link people directly and indirectly to other people?

social network / social networks operate at different levels, including ties among individuals, groups, and orgs, and societies

Refers to the process by which we make connections w/ others?

social networking / connections are functional; that is they serve as a conduit for channeling resources such as wealth, power, info, and awareness

As societies evolved and became more technologically complex, the nature of social networking changed dramatically. In the past, an individuals support system or safety net might have consisted of family members, close friends, community leaders, churches, and perhaps a few other community groups. When the social networks of individuals began to extend outward, individuals could reach larger numbers of people more easily. Nowadays, ?

social networking is often more varied and specialized. Utilizing a number of diverse, specialized networks and moving at will among them enables us to gain the psychological, economic, and social support we need

According to a national study by Common Sense Media, a majority of teens report social networking tech. have helped them "keep in touch" w/ friends or connect w/ others who have a common interest. Many more teens say?

social networks help rather than hurt their friendships / 1 in 5 said using social networking makes them feel more confident and sympathetic -still prefer face-to-face communications

Ties that cut across many different social circles will expose us to more variations in opinions and behaviors than ties that do not connect different circles or clusters of people. Diverse social networks allow us to interact across racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and many other boundaries that we may encounter face to face. Moreover, ?

social networks not only connect us to each other; they connect us to bureaucratic orgs. and other social units in the larger society

In a highly mobile, rapidly changing society, growth and turnover in many social networks is constant. People are in a constant state of flux; they travel, change jobs, friends, residences, and develop new personal and professional interests. More over, we have gradually become socially flexible.

traditional boundaries are weakening. While friends, family and neighbors still represent important socializing agents, much of our networking now extends far beyond these groups

The internet also makes it very easy to find and connect w/ a small number of people who share our exact experience or interest. Time and space are not the barriers they used to be. We now work w/ multiple teams in multiple locations. Technology, which allows info to be sent as attachments over the internet, faxed, or stored in "clouds", permits?

us to access data, documents and drawings from anywhere / but social networking, even in a digital society, continues to be a time-consuming endeavor

AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING: We can develop a better awareness of ourselves by examining how we present ourselves online. For instance, checking up on ourselves helps us understand why we may "stretch the truth". Recognizing and understanding which aspects of ourselves we share on different social networking sites, and which aspects we hide, provide?

us w/ insight into ourselves, others, and society

In another interesting global study, nearly 1,000 college students in ten countries were asked to go w/o all media for a period of 24 hours. These students described this experience?

using a language of dependency that brought to mind addictive behavior

In many instances, being aware or taking stock of our connections turns our attention to social networking sites (SNS). With SNS, our connections are visible,. Therefore, ?

we are better able to understand why and how we develop connections

DIVERSITY CONSCIOUSNESS AND ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING: As mentioned earlier, social networking is not a new phenomenon. However, w/ the internet, smartphone, and other new and emerging tech., ?

we are increasingly able to explore diverse worlds, expand personal networks, and develop our diversity consciousness

According to William Powers, becoming more creative and productive requires us to be disconnected for periods of time. By balancing connectedness w/ disconnectedness,?

we can leverage diversity/ In an era in which connectivity is the norm, Powers maintains that we need to create time and space for solitude and reflection

IDENTITY TOURISM: Unlike face-to-face interaction, cyberspace allows us unprecedented opportunities to represent ourselves any number of ways. Because we "feel" anonymous online,?

we may be more open and divulge who we really are, or we may fabricate a new online identity

We may engage in impression management w/ multiple audiences, such as ethnically diverse coworkers, long-time friends, and relatives. Due to the anonymity afforded by online networking,?

we may have more flexibility to craft and alter impressions of ourselves

The personal and professional benefits of diverse networks are noteworthy. However, in order to reap these benefits,?

we need to recognize, understand, and assess the connections we have and those we seek to develop. Furthermore, we need to understand why "who we know" may be just as important or perhaps more important than "what we know"

In China, guanxi is an integral part of everyday life. As such, it is customary to nourish an elaborate set of guanxi?

which might involve the exchange of material goods, friendship, or emotional support

THE GLOBAL RESEARCH OF SOCIAL NETWORKING: In many ways, our future depends on our ability to effectively network in a global environment. This significant challenge will?

will test our ability to adapt to individual, organizational, and cultural differences and similarities