Networking

1. The processes of operation and development of a communication network of some kind, whose structure may be largely decentralized and possibly based on informal relationships between individuals or groups.

2. Networking in its more formal (hardware-based) sense is used to describe information, telecommunication, date and library networks which are increasingly augmented by computers at various points. Considerable use of mathematical techniques is made to determine and specify the most efficient processes.

3. Networking in its less formal (software-based) sense is increasingly used to describe the relationships between formal and informal groups, particularly at a grass-roots level. In this context, networking is the process of augmenting the communication between such groups by information centres which facilitate the formation of new contacts between groups and individuals with common interests.