Social Network in the World of Abundant Connectivity

Via Ross Mayfield, a fascinating and large report from the Institute for the Future [what a great name for an institute] - Social Networks in the World of Abundant Connectivity - PDF 202pp, 1.7MB. Published in 2001, has some fascinating snippets from my skimming of the first few pages.

From the Executive Summary

By means of extensive interviews and observation, we explored the important relationships in the social networks of 13- to 27-year-olds in these regions, the function and form of such relationships, and the duration and frequency of interaction. We paid especially close attention to how the participants use technology to support and extend their networks. In this report, Social Networks in the World of Abundant Connectivity, we describe our methodology, key findings, and implications for businesses, with particular attention to the stories of the participants.

In Part I: The Architecture of Social Networks, we lay out the basic structure, processes, and interconnections in social networks. In Part II: The Interaction of Social Networks and Domains of Daily Life, we describe how young people put networks to use in different domains of their lives, including family, self, work, school, entertainment, mobility, and public places. Part III: Social Networks: Applications and Lessons for Business, includes two chapters focused on the importance of social networks to businesses. In, "Diffusion of Ideas, Products, and Services: Case Studies and Lessons," we outline a framework for understanding the diffusion of innovations, including flows in social networks, to analyze how ideas, products, and practices migrate from one locale to another, particularly from Japan to other parts of Asia and globally.