AL-QAEDA: A NETWORK

ORGANIZATION?
PRESENTERS

Case Study 6.1

LINDA KIMARU-O
WINNIE CHELAGAT

AL- QAEDA ORGANIZATION

Made up of small cells

each has a group of 5-20 members

Each cell has a primary contact(s) (central liaisons)

Al-Qaeda as a network
Madrid Cell

Leader:
Zouaydi

Member

Mombasa Cell

Financer:
Yarkas

Member

Member

Characteristics of Cell Networks

Resilience
Insulation
No reliance on prominent leaders

Cells are autonomous

Flexible
Informal network organization

Use of ICT
Communication
Maintain far flung communication
Cyber planning
To gain support
Recruitment
Survival and gowth

Putting it into context

BMW(65% of total production outsourced, stable)
NIKE(only in-house function it has is R&D and marketing, dynamic network)

Questions
1. In what ways is al-Qaeda a network organization?
2. What are the limitations of a networked organization?