Identifying Types of Individuals in a Network

We live in an era where social networking plays a vital role in our daily lives, whether it may be personally or professionally. Chapter 5 deals with "Identifying types of Individuals in the Network" by which they are broken into four groups. Central connectors-are generally connectors who represent a direct relationship in the network Boundary spanners-are connectors of a department who connect other departments in the organization.
Information Brokers-are communicators accross subgroups of an informal network.
Peri-pheral people-people who are in need of getting better connected with others. Within the following groups, the author gives us an insight of how managers are assessing peoples position in a network, particularly when they are "Stuck on the Periphery". It is certainly interesting and at the same time true that when individuals join the organization, they find themselves having difficulty of knowing and networking with others. However, the author gives one of the examples, that I have experienced at the personal level while working for an organization. He states that in order to develop connections, it is the best to put individuals with other collegues who are more "networked or experienced". At the time I worked with Raytheon Technical Service, headquarterd in Reston, VA. I was hired as the Help Desk Technicians, not knowing anybody in the company. I found it to be a little difficult to create network, since most of my work was trouble shooting and solving problems over telephone conversation; not to mention being in a cubicle for long hours. At one point, our IT Manager had decided that it would be the best, if he sent one from us (one at a time) to different locations to work with our team-mates and a way to get to know each other; as well as to work on the project during that time. Right away we could tell that our productivity level has dramatically increased and we were able to create even more network with other IT specialist, Engineers, Programmers in which we often were the first ones to know about job openings and other resources. Up to this day, I am well connected with others, both personally and professionally in the organization and believe that it is vital part of my life for continuous network and friendship.