This article intends to develop an algorithm that represents the dynamics of the interactions that lead to the establishment of ties between individuals within a group. Through a procedure involving a computer simulation, a mathematical criterion for the scoring of opinions related to an individual is defined, in order to identify how different characteristics, in special the consensus on the skills of an individual and the weight attributed to personal values, influence the structure of social networks. Results show that, when consensus on skills is high, the network has more density, leading to more complex relationships within the organization, and eventually implying synergies and even inertia. Conversely, when the consensus is low, conflicts in small groups might be communication barriers among individuals.
Social networks; diffusion of opinion; skills and values; mathematical model of networks; computer simulation