Requisite connectivity: Finding flow in a not-so-flat world

Abstract

The world is increasingly inter-connected, but establishing and maintaining connections with others is still not as easy as some suggest. Having multiple social as well as technical forms of ,connectivity, helps us achieve a threshold of what we call ,requisite, connectivity. Requisite connectivity means having just enough--but not too much--contact with others. The term has two dimensions, one a threshold condition of sufficiency and the other an optimal condition, a state of ,flow., Understandably, a lot of effort and resources go into making sure we meet the threshold of requisite connectivity in organizations. When gaps occur in one form of connection, having multiple links to others (connective density) enhances our ability to stay connected. Despite massive improvements in technical connective capacity, many distributed workers and work teams still struggle to ensure that everyone is adequately socially connected for the purpose or task at hand. Given this pre-occupation with staying connected, we are beginning to encounter another facet of living in a hyper-connected world, that is, the need for ,disconnection., While contact with others is important, so too is personal space and privacy, especially for creative and generative reflection. We have choices when it comes to being connected to or disconnected and some people are resisting things like shared calendars and other infringements on our time. Could there be an optimal state of connectivity that is like the psychological condition of ,flow,, where we find ourselves temporarily in a perfect balance of communication effectiveness and efficacy? Connective flow means feeling connected, but not overwhelmed by communication, be it email overflow or 24/7 connection to work. Finding flow in distributed work teams may provide a new perspective on performance, effectiveness and efficiency in a connected age.