What is Business Network Analysis?
Business network analysis is a diagnostic methodology that elicits the capacity of an organisation to effectively engage in its activities. It provides the ability to examine quantitatively, qualitatively, and graphically macro and micro linkages between nodes, where nodes are individuals, projects, project teams, business units, entire organisations, or even business functions, policies or documents. A connection between two or more nodes means there is some sort of relationship and information is, or should be, passed between them.
Situations Where Business Network Analysis Can Be Used
A business network analysis reveals the informal and the formal networks, allowing them to be evaluated, measured and supported. Specifically a business network analysis can be used at the level of individuals, teams, departments or organisations to:
- Assess the state of social capital by identifying individuals and teams playing central roles, such as key knowledge brokers.
- Accelerate the flow of information and knowledge across functional and organisational boundaries by detecting and correcting information bottlenecks.
- Improve decision making in senior leadership and middle-management networks by mapping inter and intra organisational dependencies .
- Assess business operations by mapping communication and process integration following a restructure or reorganisation.
- Support collaboration by identifying potential partnerships and connecting people to people to ensure effective knowledge creation and sharing.
Benefits of Doing a Business Network Analysis
Research shows that appropriate connectivity in networks within and between organisations can have a substantial impact on performance, learning, and innovation. A business network analysis uses data to provide management with empirical information on the real structure and relationships in an organisation, or the interrelationships between things like projects or policy. The data shows whether a relationship between two nodes exists, and the value of that relationship. The data can be weighted or have attributes associated with it. The results are then displayed graphically or in tabular format.
Components of a Business Network Analysis
A business network analysis will always include a graphical, qualitative, and quantitative analysis, and of course a report. A complete analysis would include the following maps:
- Collaboration Maps ,
- Information Flow Maps ,
- Organisational Interface Maps ,
- Policy Relationship Maps ,
- Project Interface Maps , and
- Social Capital Maps .
However a business network analysis need not include all elements. Each element is a discrete tailorable package, and can be mixed and matched to meet your specific requirements. Please e-mail or ring us if you want to know more.
