Introduction. The study purports to identify a pathway on how to integrate individual development and social interactions during the acquisition and maintenance of expertise. The study includes the analysis of social and personal networks, the expert context, and analyses of individual attributes. The previous network studies have indicated the importance of cohesive network positions, mediator and boundary crossing roles, the relationship between informal and formal power positions, personal characteristics and their connection with a person’s network position, and the different role of strong and weak network ties in knowledge mediation.

Contribution: In addition, than only report the results from these empirical cases, our aim was to approach the target by combining several methodological tools in order to obtain an analysing unit by which it is possible to integrate individual level data into community level data.

Introduction. The study purports to identify a pathway on how to integrate individual development and social interactions during the acquisition and maintenance of expertise. We search for a model describing the phenomena constituting the individual and social aspects of expertise in concrete, measurable and integrated terms. The study includes the analysis of social and personal networks, the expert context, and analyses of individual attributes.

We base our analysis on asking, what are the individual attributes of the expert, including domain related knowledge and skills, as well as skills necessary for creating and maintaining social networks? How does an individual expert communicate in different communities in which he or she is a member? In order to explain how the interrelationship between individual cognitive development and the growth of social and personal networks is modelled, an outline of traditional lines of research concerning both aspects is presented.

In previous network studies, various approaches have been presented, regarding the importance of cohesive network positions, mediator and boundary crossing roles, the relationship between informal and formal power positions, personal characteristics and their connection with a person’s network position, and the different role of strong and weak network ties in knowledge mediation.

Method. Two sub studies are reported. In sub study 1 there are 89 participants coming from one public organization. In sub study 2 there are 20 participants coming from a private organization on a human resource area. As a part of the both studies, a questionnaire has been distributed and social network analysis has been used to analyse the structure of interaction in inter organizational context. The second part of data consists of 20 interviews which have been collected among Study 2 participants. 

None of the participants in the data set maintained that literal sources are more important than social relationships. One of them, who regarded his own network (only) as  tiny  and called himself a lone wolf, estimated that he is using five times more time in discussions with network partners and colleagues than in reading material originating from different sources in order to find solutions to problems. Many workers described their professional history primarily by mentioning the most important mentors during or in their early professional years. Frequently they reported that they had regular contacts with their ex-colleagues.

Networks of identities are at the same time networks of perceptions. Our results indicate that experts frequently apply conscious strategies e. g. how to approach new areas of work, where and how to search for references and for literal sources, how to seek professional contacts, and so on. Knowledge exchange presupposes trust. The rules are known, and the most confidential (e. g. client related) information is not accessed, according to unspoken rules, as many interviewees told us. The interviewees also described that they are searching for facts and pure information by themselves on the internet, as well as in magazines and books. However, if they need to reflect or evaluate their own activities, they turn to their colleagues, clients and networks in general. It seems that knowledge exchange networks facilitate experts in gaining resources, even the most restricted resources.

Contribution: In addition than only report the results from these empirical cases, our aim was to approach the target by combining several methodological tools in order to obtain an analysing unit by which it is possible to integrate individual level data into community level data. This model would help us in understanding more clearly learning and knowledge exchange processes in organisations and among individuals in general and how people learn from each other in workplace settings.