Task 3b: Theories relating to networking

This task we are asked to look outward to already established ideas for networking, seeing if we can use and take inspiration from these. In reader 3 we were given 5 concepts on professional networking. I know I have been networking already in my career but I never new how to develop my networking and branch out with the way I do things. So looking at these concepts has been really great for me, and has already helped me focus on networking more. Below are these concepts and some information on them.

Cooperation:

• the will and way to win
• Closely associated with the 'Game theory' which is based on ideas developed by mathematicians and helps you tackle problems in a range of areas which include: economics, sociology, international relations and biography.
• The idea being that one successes to the others expense.
• One influential researcher Robert Axelrod, identified the importance of cooperation, and the benefits of fully cooperating with others. 
• Then when you reach maximum point of benefit you start to defect. 
• Game theory is important as it focuses on the results of cooperation. 

When first reading about this theory the idea that 'one successes to the others expense' stuck with me. Because that is completely not the way I network. I read on about it and this is called non-cooperative game theory, the idea that people use their intelligence against each other to reach their own goals. However I completely agree with cooperative game theory as I believe that you can learn so much from others, and people will help you get to your goals that you want to achieve. It basically comes down to how people interact with each other. This is itself is how you can learn from others, either in good or bad ways, to help you develop your own way of networking. 

Affiliation

• How humans enjoy and benefit from affiliations with others, forming close relationships.
• It is a concept of social psychology and shows the results of psychological processes happening in our brains. 
• This then develops into a social network that can support us when in need. 
• Homeostasis - a principle that states our need to affiliate with others, although we may differ we are all out to reach the same goal, bringing us to the same level.

As humans we need to affiliate, but the idea is that we know what and how much to share with others. I know I affiliate quite a lot, most of my connections are quite close to me and we support each other well. I also try to keep my professional profile and social profile separate as I find this is easier for me to be able to focus more on networking for my career. I believe that using affiliation helps you to create more networks to be able to progress and grow your networks in all directions. 

Connectivism

• Learning by influenced ideas about the organisation of learning.
• Special references to the spread of the internet. 
• Network theory, comes from computer science.
• Providing the means for people to connect and learn. 
• Traditional learning needs to be modified or rejected. 

This is a learning theory for the 'digital age'. It is about learning outside of ourselves and making use of the technology around us, we need to keep up with the times. I believe that we do need to start learning from different means, as we all know even schools are much different to what they were years ago. Using technology gives us another dimension in which we can network and even reflect upon our work in order to progress and develop ourselves. 

Social Constructionism

• One of a set showing explanations of how meanings about the world are made.
• It emphasises the larger social processes, which offers us something to understand when we are networking. 
• It is about how much we put into the network: what we contribute, preferred ways of engaging and what we are willing to selflessly contribute.

Ultimately it is the idea of building, hence the construction. It's how you and you network build up to what you want to achieve. Taking steps to build a 'scaffold' as it were. In my line of work you are constantly building scaffolds, whether it be with the children, getting to know them, to the choreography. I like to use this in work as it is easy to see your progress and with others joining you in your network it is really helpful. 

And finally...

Communities of practice (COP)

• Developed from social science.
• Learning as the process of engagement in social circumstances. 
• Lave and Wenger: learning can derive from co-participation.
• Social, informal, connected with specific groups.
• Self-organising not hierarchy.

Wenger stated there are 3 domains in COP:

"The domain. A community of practice is is something more than a club of friends or a network of connections between people. ‘It has an identity defined by a shared domain of interest. Membership therefore implies a commitment to the domain, and therefore a shared competence that distinguishes members from other people’ (op. cit.).

The community. ‘In pursuing their interest in their domain, members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information. They build relationships that enable them to learn from each other’ (op. cit.).

The practice. ‘Members of a community of practice are practitioners. They develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems—in short a shared practice. This takes time and sustained interaction’ (op. cit.)."

http://infed.org/mobi/jean-lave-etienne-wenger-and-communities-of-practice/

I find in our line of work this is the one that is I most relate to. Through the various networks I have, I personally see them all as teams and how we come together to reach what we have set out to achieve and successfully. You learn so much from your peers and participants just from taking a step back, observing and listening. In one company I work for, they are constantly using COP at every opportunity. Arranging meetings, evenings out, training sessions, and are always happy for you to just quickly pop up the office, and I can guarantee that the Director of the company will ask you a question which involves improving the company for all when you are there. Also in every company using the internet, emails/social media and also texts, we are able to comment and keep up with everything going on and stay connected. I believe this to be the most effective and efficient way for me.

All of these play some role in my networking life. As I said at the beginning it's nice to be able to define what way I am networking and now push myself to try others I do not usually use. Perhaps I could find one I am more suited to.