Integrating Social Network Analysis & Organizational Development

Abstract

This paper discusses recent innovations in social network analysis and social capital research in the context of organizational development. It outlines potential interventions and organizational development arenas where social network analysis can help or improve traditional OD techniques such as survey and feedback, executive coaching and organizational diagnosis. Social Network Analysis has typically been studied in knowledge intensive professions such as consulting but there is reason to believe it has value in non-knowledge intensive and institutionalized settings where social networks act as a helping mechanism affecting productivity. This paper synthesizes social network analysis and organizational development paradigms.