Social Networks
 

Teams and groups are essential in most organizations, from the board to the shop floor. But the success of a team depends on more than the skills and abilities of its members.  How the team members relate to one another is vitally important.  

Social network analysis looks at the system of relationships rather than the characteristics of the team members. Is the team divided into cliques or factions? Who has a central role? Who is on the edge? A network can be quantified and studied mathematically; key players, loners, factions and cliques can be identified.  Social network analysis can help for example:

• Improve  strategic decision-making in leadership teams

• Improve cross-functional knowledge-sharing

• Facilitate post-merger integration

• Monitor the effects of workforce diversity

• Improve team-work and communication

By diagramming the network we can visualise the relationships between the network players and see how to improve the functioning of the group.