Networks, Complexity, and Relatedness

Networks, Complexity, and Relatedness
Inquiry and learning into social networks, organizational network analysis, and the relationships among people and systems in complex organizations and networks.

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Monday, June 20, 2005

Courses in ONA and SNA : Perils and Cautions

My work has increasingly shifted toward knowledge transfer. "Always learning ahead," I say, as I focus on keeping up to date and providing client teams with the ability to do ONA/SNA as part of long-term initiatives to improve collaboration.

This past week while I was at a client teaching a masterclass, Bruce Hoppe blogged about the dangers of SNA being excessively hyped. He compares the metaphor of the SNA as the "organizational X-ray" to the history of the use of X-rays in an apt post.

This particular post resonated on two levels: one, it was a delight to hear that Bruce had connected with one of my very long-time colleagues and personal friends, David Hartzband, with whom I'll check in his new office at MIT in a few weeks.

On the second level, it was important because I often reflect on a comment Valdis Krebs made a while back about the danger of a future "Chernobyl" in an SNA case -- someone who so misused the method that it resulted in loss of jobs, reputation, or other pernicious result. I talk about this openly when I teach ONA, and hope I am reasonably fostering ethical use. Fortunately, Bruce includes a link to the Network Roundtable as an example of where SNA is being used to learn more about the role of connectivity in organizations.

Reminder: I am working on a language shift from SNA (social network analysis) to ONA (Organizational Network Analyis), which is SNA applied within the context of organizations.

Happy Birthday, Bruce!. I have so enjoyed working with and learning from you!

posted by Patti | permalink (click to comment)

Comments:

This happened in the mid 90s! Gerry Falkowski, formerly of IBM Global Services, has some great stories to tell about how this transition [SNA --> ONA] happened inside of IBM... executives felt funny about anything "social"...

# posted by

Valdis : 9:10 PM