Introduction
Networking is a linked system of different elements. A network represents a social phenomenon or describes natural operations while networking is a complex process of connecting more than two systems to give shape to the social system. Today, all kinds of electronic sociotechnical systems are known as digital networks. These systems allow processing of information flow and linkage with social systems. The techno-social system work in collaboration with human and technological factors (Dominici, Di Fatta & Cupido, 2017). A most common example of a digital network is the internet. The system appears sound and integrated with multiple technologies that are based on the internet and give rise to multiple complex interconnected systems. They have an integral role in the current era, known as the digital era. The objective of this paper is to explain the role of networking in the digital era.
Technological progress and networking
In information and communication technology, networking holds a central place. The technological progress is continuing rapidly, thus driving new applications. Networking is an example of recent technological advancement that is attributable to three recent developments. The first is the interdisciplinary network theory. It is the science of networks that provides a broader explanation of scientific approaches linked to organizational patterns. It elaborates prevailed networks surrounding everyone. The network theory was introduced in 1960 by Stanley Milgram that was later known as six degrees of separation. In 1970 it was known as weak ties by Mark Granovetter. In 1990, the concept was further modified by Duncan Watts as small-world networks.
This approach explained network as different clusters that occur under human-made and natural systems. Later it was discovered that these small word networks are aristocratic and scale-free in nature, yet they consist of small multiple connected system and nodes. These networks were examined under math laws (Dominici, Di Fatta & Cupido, 2017). The second process explains the dominant cultural logic in prevailing time. Due to changed practices today, the organizational structures are changed, so a change in degree is common in the developing world. The networking society is structured around digital patterns and communication. Current society is living in the network information economy where circulation and flow of information are enormous and based on market forms. A network of information-based society is based on individualization.
Internet is playing a crucial role to facilitate society by offering complex networks that are working at a broader level. The rise of the network society, individualism and networked economy is supporting the whole economy (Hong, 2017). Networking system is mutually constitutive due to overlapping digital spaces. Digital transformation is an advanced concept that is linked to technology. Digital assets are changing as organizations are moving. This is involving technology and realigning technological perspectives while extending all other constituents. Digital transformation is working on improved performance of the enterprise. It is also the priority of all IT businesses. The digitalization is enhancing the business landscape, so they are reshaping at an unprecedented rate.
Digital transformation is inherent in various companies. For instance, I experienced in Alpha company that technology framework is so big that it is playing a crucial role in all processes. In the UK, all the technical processes are linked to advanced networking system (Kotarba, 2018). A proof of this is evident from the book Leading Digital, where it is found that organizations have to master in digital transformation, and due to this implementation, companies have acquired better profits. Business in the UK has embraced digitization in all aspects, some of them I experience are: capturing new opportunities in the market, offering better customer experience, streamlined business operations and expanding outreach of businesses. For example, I studied about Revolut and Blockchain in the UK are focusing on cloud computing where IT mergers are using the best practices for business and allowing enterprises to use cloud services and implement the better internal infrastructure. I am working as a technical person in the IT field, and my knowledge about networking is extended on the basis of daily experience. With several IT companies, I have experienced many projects that engaged me in networking and expanded my knowledge.
Networking has a significant scope in Darktrace in the UK, one of my friends was IT manager in this company and I gained insights on how networked participation is spread everywhere that strengthens the relationship of digital networks. This experience is further backed up by structural improvement under the mapping process of networking. The UK business companies are using networking in multiple approaches to strengthen businesses; for example, it is enabling people to exploit every digital channel and manage it to reach more customers. This point is very helpful for me because I am planning to enter into networking world that has a significant place in modern IT companies. In another past experience, I witnessed the implementation of big data analytics. It is a core framework in a network that is allowing digital organizations to create minimum data.
The role of networking is also significant in boosting customer experience because it enhances digitization in the form of personalization (Kotarba, 2018). Retaining customers is a long term success for companies, who work on maintaining technological transformation. Cloud computing allows companies to develop internal cloud infrastructure. In another case of a company, I have done my internship in the web browsing aspect that has an integral role in managing technology. The streaming of media and video conferencing are important components that are responsible for client evolution. Another important component in networking in the digital era is the internet of things. This is the networking of physical devices, operational technology, sensors, vehicles and data analytics.
In the UK and other global countries, networking is expanded on a broader scope because all the centric technology means networking is critical to set up a business(Dominici, Di Fatta & Cupido, 2017). Few organizations have linked this transformation to their networking; for instance, ZK research discussed their digital strategy to integrate networking into the strategy of the business. This plays a central role in accomplishing digital plans for the company (Pegrum, 2010). For instance, connectivity, security, business insights and automation are some key uses. Computing is mainly server focused networking that enables the device to get connected with other devices. According to Metcalf’s law, the value of the network is proportional to the connected devices so that mean networking will be exploding. Security is another component that secures end pints and protects IT structure. The norms of a digital platform are IoT, cloud and mobility that increase the security’s effectiveness.
In my experience, some organizations witnessed malware in operations. Security is necessary to protect not only network but also digital enterprise other operations, internal environment and the perimeter. The digital era witnesses successful businesses related to networking. IT processes are automated when networking is implemented. Due to networking, connections are established because huge information is offered to the business. For instance, networking offers granular information to the shoppers, retailers and offer business insights to provide a perfect shopping experience.
Networking Significance
In the UK, multiple IT organizations place the latest technology to get rid of the traditional style of communication and networking allows a better understanding of business capabilities. Networking is the core part of any business (Ross, 2012). A survey of LinkedIn in 2017 reported that 80% of professionals think networking is very important for the business.
But, in similar research, it has been shown that the approach of networking by the businessmen is not adequate. Specifically, networking is not used by half of the businessmen when their businesses are going well(Dominici, Di Fatta & Cupido, 2017). Networking is a dual way traffic, and, to develop the relationships strong with the online community, they must always work hard to provide more than the return. There are different procedures for providing significance to the network. Like, share the content of network members on the social media platforms, mention the members, also give the link of their post. If a member posts a significant content, use its link on the business’s website to support them increase their authority and traffic. Help members of the community to contact each of them through social networks or email. The members of the network should be encouraged to share their content on the business’s website (Ross, 2012).
When online content is discussed, it is generally linked to backlinks, high rankings and SEO. But, the development and marketing of content are much more than that. By developing unique, relevant, informative and fresh content, there is an opportunity to stand the business as a strong resource online (Xu, 2018). In the start, the content development strategy should be diversified. Experiment with the media platforms that are used to publish the content. It can be social networks, other appropriate industry websites or blogs etc. There can be diverse kinds of quality content anybody can create, for example, how-to guides, articles, infographics, videos, whitepapers, podcasts etc.
The content helps to widen the network. High-quality content gets lots of likes, backlinks and shares online. Such as, if a how-to guide gives reasonable solutions to a certain problem, people of the related industry start sharing it with their networks through different social media platforms. To increase the extent of business content, relevant online groups can be joined. The basic aim is to stand on top of related discussions and observe the topic that the targeted customers are talking about. So that relevant content can be developed to attract the targeted audience (Pegrum, 2010).
Around the globe, in the businesses, digital transformation is developing the methods of organizations, whether big or small the way they operate. In today’s digital economy, digital transformation is attributable to networking. Its characteristics in management processes and manual configuration allow for the safety of the system, i.e. external threats to security. The digital business goals at the global level are based on valuable business capabilities and to align network functioning. It is a digital networking system that meets the changing scope of systems as well as the dynamic needs of the enterprise (Venkatesh, Mathew & Singhal, 2019). The demand for growing network today is based on reliable connectivity to meet the expectations of the consumer. There are several fundamental components in this regard, such as scale, speed, cloud, security and simplicity.
The scale is about investment in digital platforms that works with best-operating models. Internet of things and mobile are the substantial parts of networking, and it is important to securely connect massive platforms with distributed networks. Many organizations in the UK are moving at a faster pace due to networking and digital initiatives. The IT infrastructure establishes a business and allows keeping up with modern style (Pegrum, 2010). The networks of organizations are built to support the internal process of the company and its operations continuity. The scope of networking is based on the diversity and simplicity of applications. The simplified, automated network operations are linked to the structure of management. The networking teams are occupied with the innovative IT support that works with business capabilities (Venkatesh, Mathew & Singhal, 2019). In another example that I observed in Cisco, IT experts use digital networking readiness model. It was related to the network planners and leaders to effectively stimulate the operations and meet challenges.
Conclusion
Networking priorities allow companies to take an architectural approach to manage time. Network modifications are aligned on the distributary system within the enterprise to access the data centre. Networking in the digital era is moving with a fast pace and building open standards for the interfaces. Digital transformation needs an open solution for standards to support business capabilities. A centralized policy-based protocol is essential in networking that increases automation. Due to the structural dynamic, agile networking system, a business can build its model in the digital era. It is prudent to consider networking a key part of IT architecture because it offers innovative services to companies and incorporate virtualization. The operation wide networking is increasingly implemented to help companies navigate in the transactions of the market.
References
Dominici, G., Di Fatta, D. and Cupido, F., 2017. The value of a network in the digital era: insights about Doctor Chat case study. International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, 8(4), p.301.
Hong, Y., 2017. Networking China: The Digital Transformation of the Chinese Economy. SSRN Electronic Journal,.
Kotarba, M., 2018. Digital Transformation of Business Models. Foundations of Management, 10(1), pp.123-142.
Ó Briain, L., 2015. Beyond the Digital Diaspora: YouTube Methodologies, Online Networking and the Hmong Music Festival. Journal of World Popular Music, 2(2), pp.289-306.
Pegrum, M., 2010. ‘I Link, Therefore I Am’: Network Literacy as a Core Digital Literacy. E-Learning and Digital Media, 7(4), pp.346-354.
Ross, S., 2012. Digital Preservation, Archival Science and Methodological Foundations for Digital Libraries. New Review of Information Networking, 17(1), pp.43-68.
Venkatesh, R., Mathew, L. and Singhal, T., 2019. Imperatives of Business Models and Digital Transformation for Digital Services Providers. International Journal of Business Data Communications and Networking, 15(1), pp.105-124.
Xu, L., 2018. Ulises Ali Mejias: Off the Network: Disrupting the Digital World. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(2), pp.257-264.
