Chief Networking Officer

Networked economy

In today's economic environment, companies are working together more and more. To operate Instead of vertical integration, they go one relationships with customers, suppliers, partner companies. This behavior of firms leads to network formation.

The result is that fewer individual firms compete against each other. Rather, there is a competition between different networks. The single company in the network in turn is dependent on the other companies in the network. Therefore, the legal independence of the company not be equated with its de facto independence.

A company may participate in multiple networks. This creates the coopetition. For a company, it is crucial to work in a well-functioning network. For this it is essential that the flow of information and exchange of knowledge within an enterprise itself, going as optimally controlled on the network can.

The ICT ( Information & Communication Technology ) can facilitate the flow of information and knowledge exchange significantly.

Role of ICT

Properly applied ICT can lead for a company with a competitive advantage. Poorly managed ICT, however, can jeopardize a company for embedding into the corporate network, which may even threaten their existence. The role of ICT therefore goes out in a business venture far beyond the mere operation of the software and hardware.

The cooperation between firms in networks can be significantly supported by ICT. The transfer of information that is necessary for the conduct of daily business can be customized.

A company can get in contact directly with their ICT (end) customers. The end customer can be involved, for example in the development of new products. In addition, the brand identity of the company can be controlled if the company communicates directly with its end customers.

Knowledge can be shared within and outside of an enterprise with the help of ICT. This is even more important, so today often work teams in different time zones and different places. Therefore, it is important to maintain knowledge and make it available. For a company, it is crucial that this philosophy of " sharing knowledge " is also practiced. Therefore, the employees need to be motivated for it. It can also be set appropriate financial incentives.

ICT can support the analysis of a network. The aim of such analysis is to filter out the most important network partners. Then can a company concentrate its limited resources on the maintenance of this relationship.

Duties of CNO

If all the structures described are available in a company and a network that is no guarantee that this culture is also practiced. Therefore, the Chief Networking Officer ( CNO) is holding a special attention to the fact that information and knowledge are actually split within the meaning of the enterprise. The CNO serves as a model for the new culture and lives before this.

The CNO manages the ICT in order to use the networks of an enterprise optimally. This is a strategic issue that must be settled at the highest management level and can not be delegated to the IT department.

The duties of CNO 's could we follow are briefly described.

  • Align ICT according to the company strategy
  • Ensure that culture of information and knowledge sharing is lived
  • Control know- how transfer and information flow
  • Resolve conflicts in the best interest of all
  • Make available the knowledge embedded

In some companies, there is an explicit CNO. In other companies, the functions performed by a CNO, distributed to other employees, such as to the CEO or the CFO.

Requirements for a CNO

A CNO communicates a lot and has interfaces to many departments in a company. Therefore, he must have knowledge, but they also have very good soft skills:

  • Ability to find trouble at a consensus and promote harmonious team structures,
  • Ability, decision-makers responsible towards majority as well as minority opinions,
  • Ability to conduct meetings efficiently, communicate and listen,
  • Possess business acumen,
  • Strict moral demands on himself and integrity,
  • Has regarding ICT systems and visions can strategically positioned to support the mission and shops,
  • Knows and understands the systems and their integration,
  • Know the company and their networks,
  • Recreational amenities include excellent analytical skills.

Competencies

A CNO typically has the following competencies:

  • Cultivating relationships with the network
  • Allocate resources within the organization and the network optimally
  • Power to make decisions about future development of communication systems ( internal and external)

Responsibility

The CNO is responsible for ensuring that the resources are from the network surrounding the company availed optimal. Due to the constant care and collaboration with various networks of the CNO is also partly responsible for how the company is perceived by the audience and has good conditions.

The use of internal resources according to the network analysis can have a direct impact on business results.

Thus, the CNO is helping to lead the company and to ensure the long -term success.

CNO panel

In Switzerland, every year, the CNO panel takes place, an event dedicated to the experiences and insights on the economic benefits of the role of the CNO.

Previous speakers and interviewees are registered in the CNO Hall of Fame.

Among the most prominent promoters and contributors to the CNO network of science and politics include:

  • Norbert Thom
  • Bernd Schips
  • Beda M. Stadler
  • Fritz Fahrni
  • Martin Eppler
  • Klaus Neumann
  • Bernhard Katzy
  • Walter Dettling
  • Thomas Rudolf
  • Andrea Back
  • Rudolf Minsh
  • Doris Leuthard
  • Otto Ineichen
  • Kathy Riklin

Also a member of the CNO Hall of Fame are numerous representatives of science and society.

Swell

Venkatramen, N., Henderson, John C. (1998 ): Real Strategies for Virtual Organizing, Sloan Management Review, Fall 1998, pp. 33-48.

Sydow, Jörg et al. (1995 ): The organization of networks: Strukturationstheoretische analyzes of mediation practice in insurance networks, West German Verlag GmbH, Opladen. ISBN 3-531-12745-4.

  • Chief Officer
  • IT Management
183557
de