Question

multiple choice question
in terms of professional networking, how many close relationships (strong ties) and acquaintances (weak ties) should people cultivate?

people should aim to have 75 percent of their relationships involve weak ties and 25 percent of their relationships involve strong ties.
people should maintain a balance between strong and weak ties, both inside and outside the organization.
people should focus their efforts almost entirely on close relationships within the organization.
people should limit themselves to having five or six professional relationships, whether they involve strong or weak ties.

Explanation:

Research on professional networking (rooted in social capital theory) shows that weak ties (acquaintances) provide access to new information, opportunities, and diverse networks, while strong ties offer support and trust. The optimal balance leans heavily toward weak ties, with the widely cited 75% weak ties / 25% strong ties ratio aligning with this framework, as it maximizes both opportunity access and reliable support. The other options either fail to reflect the evidence-based balance, overprioritize narrow strong ties, or limit networking scope too severely.

Answer:

A. People should aim to have 75 percent of their relationships involve weak ties and 25 percent of their relationships involve strong ties.