Heidi Roizen Case Final Submission
Heidi Roizen
MBUS 803 – Strategy I – Dr. Tina Dacin
Q.1 - Using the assigned readings, provide an analysis of Roizen’s network. What kinds of networks does Roizen build? What do they look like?
Heidi Roizen has built herself a very strong rainmaker network (Exhibit 1). This type of network combines the clique network and the entrepreneurial (constellation) network to create a network optimized for performance impact (Dacin). A clique network is built based on similarities such as expertise or proximity. Clique networks (Exhibit 1 – coloured nodes) are beneficial for finding like-minded individuals but don’t scale well across job functions and industries. The entrepreneurial network (Exhibit 1 – empty nodes) is built based on fostering strategic relationships with those that sit in the centre of another large network. Entrepreneurial networks provide a wider reach across job functions and industries but also rely heavily on secondary relationships and “weak ties”.
Intuitively it doesn’t seem like a network highly reliant on weak ties can be one that Heidi would be able to successfully leverage on a regular basis. In reality networks rich in weak ties are beneficial when it comes to career progression, match making and influencing the decisions of others (Pfeffer). These are the arenas in which Heidi specializes in and therefore explain her rainmaker network strategy. Strong ties do challenge an individual in situations that require substantial amounts of assistance (Pfeffer) but Heidi’s strong persuasion abilities are able to counter that issue.
Heidi’s ability to persuade others and align people is crucial to the success of her rainmaker network. She mentions herself that reciprocity, consistency and performance are far more important than the frequency of interactions in maintaining her network. Those three philosophical pillars of Heidi’s networking strategy work together to establish credibility for her through her expertise and in her relationships
MBUS 803 – Strategy I – Dr. Tina Dacin
Q.1 - Using the assigned readings, provide an analysis of Roizen’s network. What kinds of networks does Roizen build? What do they look like?
Heidi Roizen has built herself a very strong rainmaker network (Exhibit 1). This type of network combines the clique network and the entrepreneurial (constellation) network to create a network optimized for performance impact (Dacin). A clique network is built based on similarities such as expertise or proximity. Clique networks (Exhibit 1 – coloured nodes) are beneficial for finding like-minded individuals but don’t scale well across job functions and industries. The entrepreneurial network (Exhibit 1 – empty nodes) is built based on fostering strategic relationships with those that sit in the centre of another large network. Entrepreneurial networks provide a wider reach across job functions and industries but also rely heavily on secondary relationships and “weak ties”.
Intuitively it doesn’t seem like a network highly reliant on weak ties can be one that Heidi would be able to successfully leverage on a regular basis. In reality networks rich in weak ties are beneficial when it comes to career progression, match making and influencing the decisions of others (Pfeffer). These are the arenas in which Heidi specializes in and therefore explain her rainmaker network strategy. Strong ties do challenge an individual in situations that require substantial amounts of assistance (Pfeffer) but Heidi’s strong persuasion abilities are able to counter that issue.
Heidi’s ability to persuade others and align people is crucial to the success of her rainmaker network. She mentions herself that reciprocity, consistency and performance are far more important than the frequency of interactions in maintaining her network. Those three philosophical pillars of Heidi’s networking strategy work together to establish credibility for her through her expertise and in her relationships