Organisational networking in a small-sized HR consultancy spin-off: A rapid assessment of literature evidences

A state-of-art rapid evidence assessment on organisational networking was performed during an internship experience at a small-sized human resource consultancy academic spin-off. Twenty-two studies were selected, reviewed, and assessed against the level of methodological appropriateness of the sources they were gathered from, as well as the degree of feasibility for the targeted setting. Retrieved information related to networking effectiveness in enhancing organisational performance, individual characteristics of effective networkers, and implementable strategies to foster employees’ networking capability and behaviours. Overall, networking turned out to be effective in promoting firms’ performance. Also, a “good networker” individual profile emerged, entailing both personality and ability variables. Finally, six pursuable actions to foster employees’ networking capability and behaviours were identified. Small-sized firms’ managers can use results from the current paper to scientifically inform the planning, design and implementation of activities aimed at exploiting networking’s potential.