Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007 Administrator's Companion

Introduction to Knowledge Networks

The word "network" has a myriad of similar meanings. Simply put, it means connecting separate pieces together to form a single or contiguous piece. When we talk about a network of knowledge, we mean connecting separate pieces of information together. The concept of Knowledge Networks dates back to the work of Mark Granovetter. His most famous work in networks theory can be found in an article called "The Strength of Weak Ties." The basic argument is that your relationship to family members and close friends ("strong ties") will not supply you with as much diversity of knowledge as your relationship to acquaintances, distant friends, and the like ("weak ties"). In other words, in the world we live in, there is ...