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.

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