Network patterns are visual archetypes that help teams understand relationships and information flow in a system, using tools like the Net-Map Toolbox for mapping and intervention.
Network Patterns
Network patterns are named, visual archetypes that describe how relationships and information flow in a system. The patterns give teams a shared vocabulary to spot structures like hubs, cliques, bridges, and silos, discuss implications, and choose interventions.
Applying the patterns with Net‑Map
The Net‑Map Toolbox, developed by Eva Schiffer, is a practical way to map actors, ties, goals, and influence in your context. Once you’ve mapped your network with Net‑Map, use the pattern cards to interpret what you see, surface opportunities and risks, and decide where to intervene. Learn more: netmap.wordpress.com
Lonesome Twosomes describes pairs of nodes that are connected to each other but isolated from other pairs.
Celebrating Diversity discusses a heterogeneous network with varying types of connections and node types.
The Boss Is the Boss discusses a strict top-down hierarchy in organizational communication.
Birds of a Feather discusses homogeneous coalitions, which are groups of nodes with dense internal connections and few connections to other groups.
Get Past the Dragon discusses a gate-keeper node that controls network access and acts as a bottleneck or filter.
"Everyone for Themselves" discusses isolated nodes with no connections between them.
The Inner Circle describes a core-periphery network where a central group is densely connected, while peripheral nodes connect only to the core.
Bridge to Outside Worlds discusses boundary spanners in a network connecting different groups.
Everybody Holding Hands describes a fully connected network where every node is connected to every other node.
The page discusses a hub and spoke network structure with a central node connected to all other nodes.