Reference #96: Better People Analytics
Highly efficient teams and highly innovative teams rely on different team structures. Both need individuals with high external range — that is, possessing a wide, diverse, non-overlapping, and preferably well-connected network of connections. This provides information and critical resources for highly efficient teams, as well as buy-in and validation for innovative teams. Where these team differ is in their internal density — their level of interconnectedness across teams and amount of interaction within the team. High internal density leads to similar ways of thinking and ready agreement — both of which benefits efficiency. But innovative teams benefit from the discussions and disagreements of low internal density to create creative tension and produce breakthroughs.
Leonardi, Contractor. Better People Analytics, 2018. Reprinted in Reinventing HR, 2019. (68-71)