How to Build Network Citizenship Behavior within a Social Network or Consortium

As we move further into the 21st Century, we are becoming more aware that we live in a networked economy and culture, and, as a result, we need to learn how to improve the development of social capital across organizations. Although in nearly all sectors of the economy we have learned that we must rely on stakeholders outside our boundaries to supply us with the necessary knowledge to manage our own operation, the development of collaborative network relationships has not always come easily. For many people, developing the requisite intergroup competence to build and sustain a network is a challenge. At the same time, stand-alone organizations are bound to face devastating inefficiencies if they can't learn to coordinate services. In higher education, universities are looking to establish network structures, such as consortia, to formally tie institutional members together looking to share resources. These hubs not only establish instrumental means to bring the parties together but seek to develop a mindset of cooperation underpinned by intrinsic contribution and trust.