Asq Worcester Network Power Public

Network Power! Tapping Hidden Social Networks to Accelerate Improvement American Society for Quality Worcester Section June 18, 2009 Presenter: Maya Townsend, Partnering Resources Contact: 617.395.8396 o [email_address] o www.partneringresources.com

The Point
Companies can accelerate improvement initiatives and increase likelihood of success by tapping into existing hidden networks
Image: Partnering Resources

Why It Matters Data: McKinsey (2005). Only 29% of change initiatives are completely or mostly successful improving performance.

1. What is a network? 2. What do networks have to do with change? 3. How can you leverage networks to improve organizations faster and more effectively? Agenda

What is a Network? Networks are about movement Computer networks move data from location to location Public transportation networks help people travel in cities The circulatory system carries oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from our cells

The Simplest Work Network Sam knows how to answer the question so Mary connects you to Sam Human networks are also all about movement: The movement of information You have a question You ask Mary at the next desk She doesn’t know the answer and calls Sam for advice Problem solved!

People Form Networks within Teams

More People, More Complexity

We Work through Formal Systems… Jane is at the individual contributor level on the org chart

… And Miss the Networks Jane is a critical connector in this network. Without Jane, the organization separates into 3 unconnected factions

Measuring Critical Connectors
Critical Connectors comprise only 5% of the organization
Three Critical Connectors
Hubs
Gatekeepers
Pulsetakers
Image: © 2005 NetForm, Inc. Used with permission.

The Hub
Highly and directly connected with many people
Communicate and disseminate knowledge through the organization
Gary Harry Patty Paula

The Gatekeeper
Link departments, functions, and groups together
Act as information gateways and broker knowledge between critical parts of the organization

The Pulsetaker
Have maximum influence using minimum number of direct contacts
Work through indirect means

It’s Not Just the Grapevine: Organizations have Multiple Networks Social Decision-Making Innovation Expertise Improvement

1. What is a network? 2. What do networks have to do with change? 3. How can you leverage networks to improve organizations faster and more effectively?

About Change Gartner, 2001 * Of which 45% are never used Standish Group Standish Group Changes Completed On Time and With Minimal Disruption: 5% Average Project Cost Overrun: 43% Percentage of Originally Defined Features Delivered: 54%*

Healthy Networks: Adaptable & Resilient
Networks can…
Adapt quickly to change.
Withstand stress.
Reorganize without significantly affecting productivity.
Diffuse information easily.
Grow quickly.
Case studies: Plastrik & Taylor (2006) and Evans & Wolf (2005).

Unhealthy Networks Can Cause Failure
Nearly 80% of senior executives surveyed believe that effective coordination across boundaries is crucial for growth…
… yet only 25% say their organizations are effective at sharing knowledge across boundaries
Graphic: NetForm. Used with permission. Lack of connections between two key departments caused a major gaffe at the LA Philharmonic

Leaders Can Leverage Networks
Situation: Monopolist culture impeded growth, cost-cutting, and quality improvement programs.
Actions: Leaders identified and engaged critical network connectors in "Pride Builders" meetings.
Results: Dramatic increases in satisfaction metrics:
Increase of 71% in employee satisfaction in comparison to control group.
Increase of 35% - 245% in customer satisfaction in comparison to control group.
Case: Reingold & Yang (2007).

Four Techniques
Build strong personal networks
Understand your organization’s networks
Build networks to support change
Use multiple techniques

1. Build Strong Personal Networks Image: Barry Wellman, “The Network Community: An Introduction to Networks in the Global Village.

Successful Projects have Stronger Leadership Networks
93% of completely successful change initiatives were led by people with very strong / strong personal networks
73% of less successful change initiatives were led by people with moderate / weak networks
Data: NEHRA / Partnering Resources study (2009).

Key to Building Your Network Photo: Sizumaru’s Photo Stream, Flickr. Building networks requires more giving than receiving

The Minimalist Approach
Schedule 1 coffee meeting / month
Forward 1 email / week
Walk around the office and talk with people 1 time / day

2. Understand Your Organization’s Networks
How does information flow through the organization?
Who are the critical connectors?
Who are the ad hoc decision-makers?
Who can make things happen?
Image: Nancy Margulies (www.nancymargulies.com)

An Example Images: Partnering Resources using NetForm™ Connectors software. The loss of only two people causes major gaps in this nonprofit organization. The diagram on the left shows the organization today. The one on the right shows the organization without 2 critical connectors.

How to Understand Networks
Map them by hand
Map them using ONA software
Ask 10 people you trust: Who do you trust to get things done?
Images: Partnering Resources.

3. Build Networks to Support Change

Case Study: Building Networks to Support Change
Situation: IT projects consistently failed to meet time and budget constraints.
Actions: Leaders seeded the Implementation Team with critical network connectors.
Leaders created a Learning Team also comprised of critical connectors.
Results: The organization achieved its goal and implemented CMM Level 3 processes in 50% the time recommended. Learning continues to this day. © 2009 Maya Townsend

How to Build Change Networks
Get the right people in the (virtual) room
Define the purpose
Give them a forum
Encourage give and take
Listen
Give them the power to act
Image: Charis Tsevis.

4. Use Multiple Techniques Ask informal leaders to help support the change Brainstorm or explore ideas associated with the change with people outside the change team Strategize how to overcome planning or implementation obstacles Get feedback on documents, approach, and aspects of the initiative before rollout Understand what the grapevine has to say about change Leverage personal contacts to help get things done Data: NEHRA / Partnering Resources study (2009). Strategize how to overcome planning or implementation obstacles Get feedback on documents, approach, and aspects of the initiative before rollout These two techniques are positively correlated with the success of change initiatives. In other words, if you do nothing else, do these!

Let’s Leverage our Networks!
What from this presentation stands out as most relevant to your work?
What questions do you have?
Image: Nancy Margulies (www.nancymargulies.com)

For More Information…
Articles & Research
Kleiner, A. (2002). “Karen Stephenson’s Quantum Theory of Trust.” strategy + business. Available at www.strategy-business.com .
Reingold, J. & Yang, J. L. (2007). “The Hidden Workplace.” CNN Money . Available at www.cnnmoney.com .
Patton, S. (2005). “Social Network Analysis Helps Maximize Collective Smarts.” CIO.Com. Available at http://tinyurl.com/64wtu8 .
Stephenson, K. & Zelen, M. (1989). “Rethinking Centrality.” Available at http://drkaren.us/KS_publications01.htm .
Townsend, M. (2008). “The Three Most Important Positions You Don’t Know About Yet.” Available at www.partneringresources.com/resources.html .
Townsend, M. (2009). “Leveraging Human Networks to Accelerate Learning.” Chief Learning Officer. Available at http:// tinyurl.com/ccftsu .
Townsend, M. & Yeung, S. (2009). “Survey: Informal Networks Linked to Success of Change Initiatives.” Boston.Com. Available at http://tinyurl.com/oql7d9 .
Books
Anklam, P. (2007). Net Work: A Practical Guide to Creating and Sustaining Networks at Work and in the World.
Cohen, D. & Prusak, L. (2001). In Good Company: How Social Capital Makes Organizations Work.
Cross, R., & Parker, A. (2004). The Hidden Power of Social Networks: Understanding How Work Really Gets Done in Organizations.
Network Analysis & Mapping Software
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_analysis_software for full list.
Recommended freeware: UCINet & Visone .
Recommended commercial software: Connectors , InFlow , NetMiner .
Websites
www.partneringresources.com

Network Power! Tapping Hidden Social Networks to Accelerate Improvement American Society for Quality Worcester Section June 18, 2009 Presenter: Maya Townsend, Partnering Resources Contact: 617.395.8396 o [email_address] o www.partneringresources.com

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Asq Worcester Network Power Public

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