4.1. Personal versus Weak Networks

Now, imagine then I ask you to buy a ball pen okay, I ask you to buy a ball pen but you do not know about this ball pen, what do you do, how do you make a decision about this ball pen, is it difficult; it is very difficult to make a decision about this ball pen because I really do not know.

The speaker introduces a scenario to illustrate the concept of making decisions based on information acquired through social networks. Initially, a person is unsure about the quality of a new ball pen. This uncertainty highlights the importance of obtaining information before making a decision.

Think of it as trying to decide on a restaurant to dine in when you’re in a new city. You might feel uncertain since you have no prior experience with the place. However, by asking friends or checking online reviews, you can gather essential information that helps you confidently choose a restaurant.

So, maybe in time 2, I asked one of my friends, hey, do you know about this ball pen, any idea, have you ever used this ball pen. Because this is a new came from America or somewhere else, this is not available in my place. He said hey, I have no idea man, I do not know.

In this chunk, the speaker describes how individuals leverage their immediate networks for information. When the narrator asks a friend about the ball pen, the friend admits to having no knowledge, emphasizing that not everyone in your immediate circle has useful insights.

Imagine asking your coworker about a new software tool that has just been released. If your coworker hasn’t used it yet, they won't be able to help you make an informed decision either.

Then in time 3, he expanded his network okay, he asked somebody they said use new ball pen, it is really good, then someone is saying that okay, it is damn good use it buddy, other one is saying my cousin in USA said good so, please, another one is old is gold, I do not like to try the new so, it is now discouraging okay.

Here, the friend expands his social circle to gather more opinions about the ball pen. He receives mixed feedback, which showcases the variability of information based on the broader network. This illustrates that a single weak connection can provide valuable insights that one’s immediate network cannot.

It’s like reaching out to multiple friends on social media when seeking recommendations for a vacation. Some friends may encourage you to visit a particular destination while others may advise against it based on their experiences. The diversity of opinions is what helps shape your decision.

So, many people actually encouraging so, with these informations; what are their colour, how they look like, how it works. He is getting informations to his network that really helped him to adapt and buy this one so, he reduces his degree of uncertainty through using it, through collecting informations and now he is using it so, he really reduced uncertainty whether this will work or not.

This section summarizes how the accumulated information from the expanded network helps reduce uncertainty about the ball pen's efficacy. By gathering various opinions and details, the individual feels more confident in their purchasing decision.

Think of it as buying a new smartphone; before you buy, you might check several reviews online and ask friends who own the phone. The diverse feedback will influence your decision, reducing any doubts you have about whether it meets your needs.

So, but the question is; I need 3 kind of things, activities to be involved to collect information; one is hearing, observation and discussions.

To effectively gather information, the speaker identifies three critical activities: hearing (listening to opinions), observation (watching how something works or is utilized), and discussions (engaging in conversations to share perspectives). These activities are essential in the decision-making process.

For instance, when buying a new car, you might listen to advertisements (hearing), visit a dealership to see the car in person (observation), and talk to friends who own that model (discussions) to make an informed choice.

Now, who will be my source of information, where should I go for collecting informations? My neighbour, my co-workers, my relatives, my friends, those I do not know, my competitors, whom should I go., if I want to buy this ball pen; simple ball pen, whom should I rely?

This chunk addresses the challenge of selecting appropriate sources of information. The narrator lists various potential sources such as neighbors, co-workers, and relatives, highlighting the need to evaluate who would provide the most relevant insights.

For example, if you're considering taking an advanced course, you could consult classmates who have taken it (friends), instructors who teach it (co-workers), or even academic advisors (relatives) to gather reliable information.

My friends; here is a look generally, like Valentin is saying that it is the direct and the personal relationships like friends, I have face to face interaction with them, my relationship is direct personally connected or maybe like neighbours, they are also my personal connector, people depends on them for collecting informations, according to his finding.

In this section, the speaker discusses personal networks, characterized by direct, face-to-face relationships, emphasizing their value in information gathering. These close connections are often seen as reliable sources for information, but the speaker will later contrast this with the shortcomings of only relying on such networks.

Consider close friends who offer support and advice; they know you well and can provide tailored insights. However, relying solely on them for all your decisions may limit exposure to new ideas or perspectives.

Granovetter; he is saying no actually, a direct networks they do not really work much, this actually give you redundant informations, same informations again and again because you are not expanding your networks, unless you expand your networks how you can get new ideas, new evaluation, new reviews because you are always in the same one so, you need to actually collect, use your weak networks, indirect networks.

The speaker references Granovetter’s theory which suggests that relying solely on close, personal networks can lead to receiving redundant information. For innovation and diverse insights, individuals should engage with 'weak ties'—more distant connections that can offer fresh perspectives and ideas.

If you only consult your close friends about music recommendations, you might hear the same artists repeatedly. However, if you ask acquaintances or people from different social groups, you might discover new genres or artists that you wouldn’t encounter otherwise.

You do not know your friends, friends, friends, friend maybe, you are at IIT Roorkee and you are collecting informations from IIT Madras that is more useful than only collecting informations from IIT Roorkee, right? so, which informations I should get and from where so, either it is personal, it could be indirect.

This segment emphasizes the importance of weak networks. The speaker suggests that gathering information from indirect connections, such as peers from different institutions or communities, can provide more diverse and useful insights than relying solely on one’s immediate circle.

Think of it as attending a conference where you meet professionals from various companies and fields instead of just sticking with your work colleagues. The knowledge and experiences you gain from new acquaintances can significantly enhance your understanding and opportunities.

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