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.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

ONA Classic: Innovation

Laurie Lock Lee, of Optimice in Australia, has been a terrific source of insight for me over the past several years. He recently published a great white paper, The 3 E's of Innovation.
In this paper, he neatly summarizes (in good lay person terms) the social network theories of closure (a tightly connected network) and structural holes (people in good position to link closed networks), and shows the structural evolution of a network as ideas are Explored, management is Engaged to support the innovation and Exploited in creating real products from ideas.

This has given me the idea of starting a list of "ONA Classics," articles that are well written for general (read: management) audiences, introduce social/organizational network terminology in a meaningful context, and illustrate the concepts with simple but powerful maps. I'll need to mull over my collection to see what else qualifies as a classic, but there is at least this one: Building Smart Communities through Network Weaving
by Valdis Krebs and June Holley. This paper describes the transformation in network patterns as networks emerge and are guided toward connectivity.

Please let me know your suggestions for classics!

Labels: innovation, ONA Classic, patterns

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Learning from the Experts on social network analysis

I came across two gems this past week, I forget what I was looking for, but found a wonderful video of Ron Burt, whose work on structural holes is one of the cornerstones of social network analysis. Burt's writing is pretty dense and very technical, so I was delighted by the accessibility of his explanations in his talk on"Collaborate to Innovate: A brief note on the social origins of good ideas" at a Nesta (National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts in the UK). He brings life to the distinctions between the roles of people who bring ideas from the outside vice those who try to keep things focused on the inside.

The second is an audio of Karen Stephenson's talk at MeshForum last year. It's newly posted, on ITConversations. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down the slide presentation that she was speaking to, but there are some terrific nuggets from a person who as been doing organizational network analysis professionally longer than most of us.

In both instances, it's nice to see their personalities come through.

btw (1). Karen is offering a certification program in NetForm Social Network Analysis through the Organization Development Network. I probably shouldn't advertise the competition (as I do training in ONA myself), but I think it's great to see a large national organization be so interested in bringing competency in ONA into their repertoire.

btw(2). The next MeshForum is May 7, inSan Francisco. I haven't been able to attend any of these, but the content -- all shared on the MeshForum site -- is excellent. Shannon Clark is a great connector of multidisciplinary ideas and threads. This year, the 2nd day of MeshForum will be in the Open Space format. It should be wonderful.

Labels: innovation, social network analysis

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patti anklam. How to make networks work.

Find me person-to-person !

KMWorld 2008 September 23-25, San Jose, CA. I'll be doing a session on Net Work and moderating a day with KM thought leaders.

links: network analysis

My ONA Page

Rob Cross
Bruce Hoppe
Valdis Krebs
INSNA
ONA-prac. The online community for learners and practitioners in the emerging field of Organizational Network Analysis.

links: blogroll

21st Century Organization
Anecdote
Bill Ives
Dave Snowden
David Gurteen
Denham Grey
Jack Vinson
Patrick Lambe
Ross Dawson