Exploring the metaphor of connectivity: Attributes, dimensions and duality

Abstract

The term 'connectivity' has wide usage as a technical term describing connections between electronic devices. Increasingly, however, the concept of connectivity is being used as a metaphor for intra- and inter-organizational interactions. This article explores some of the attributes that make the metaphor of connectivity applicable to social phenomena, namely latent potentiality, temporal intermittency, actor agency and unknowable pervasiveness. Furthermore, it identifies how 'connects' and 'disconnects' suggest an underlying theoretical duality, which is illustrated across multiple dimensions of connectivity, including: geo-physical, technical, interpersonal, group, organizational, networks, economic, cultural, political and philosophical. Implications for management and research are discussed.