Netweaving (middle process)

Netweaving is a made-up word that connotes the next stage or latest level of networking. To understand netweaving one must first look back a few decades perhaps prior to the mid-1970's and the advent of the calculator followed shortly thereafter by the personal computer (PC).

Until that time, networking was simply working with each other in a sharing manner, without the burden of legal entitlement (or entanglement).  The term was significantly enhanced when PCs arrived and then it meant linking computers together locally with a master/host and one or many slaves deriving data from the host.

The 1980s gave rise to a more advance of networking known as collaboration. In short, this was networking where two or more people joined forces and each derived immediate or future/deferred benefit from the relationship.  This was nothing more than two entities uniting for a common purpose to share project work—typically for the same client.

The 1990s saw the rise of the next networking iteration called partnering. Its origins sprung from public-private collaborations back a decade or so, but then each side had its own agenda it took on a different nuance.  In the world of M&A, partnering was different (unrelated) entities joining forces in a non-equity manner--whereby one or both could breakup or rescind the joining agreement without hassle (according to pre-determined language).  A myriad of alliances were created, many among competitors who realized that more could be gained by joining forces than knocking heads.

The new millennium brought the cresting and bursting of the dot.com as the INTERNET imploded under the over-exuberance of lust & greed.  What was going to the next-great investment vehicle sputtered but as the economy stabilized a new type of networking called netweaving had been incubated.  Popularized by the "Pay It Forward" movie, there was an awareness that partnering doesn't always have to mean WIIFM (what's in it for me). More than altruism and good-feeling, netweaving was the integration of all of its (networking) predecessors rolled into one with the elements of trust and competency (or the unexpressed ability to return the favor--if on a personal basis, and an implied quid pro quo--if commercially based) added in.  Actually, these elements had to be mutually present in both parties or else this higher/est form of networking simply did not exist.

Today, netweaving follows positioning in our Local Channel Marketing™ system.  In point of fact, there can be no netweaving until/unless positioning has allowed our assigned Business Relation Manager to do the obligatory analyses and cross-matching for the "best available" service selection.

For more reading on the topic in a general sense, please visit Bob Littell's excellent website by the same name, www.netweaving.com

, Bob likes to be known as the Chief Netweaver.  (Deservingly so.)