Project Snapshots
www.optimice.com.au
Commercial in Confidence
1
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Monitor discussion group of CoP to identify community discussion patterns
This global engineering community of practice was using a simple discussion list as the core of its communication platform, along with specific face to face events. The CoP facilitators were interested in a way of monitoring the community and assessing the impact of the events that they organised on behalf of the CoP. SNA was used to develop maps of communications from the online data. These maps were communicated to the facilitation team on a quarterly basis as an ongoiing health check for the community.
The maps proved to be strongly reflective of the ebbs and flows of this global community. Face to face events inevitably generated an increase in traffic and activity. Some groups became more or less active depending external events impacting their home businesses. Overall the utility provided a good means for monitoring the health of the community over time.
2,000 strong maintenance engineering community of practice analysis
This major resources organisation was in the process of merging their regional engineering communities of practice into a single global CoP with over 2,000 engineers. SNA was used to identify a baseline ahead of the implementation of the global community, supported by a full time facilitation team.
The analysis identified that the existing communities were heavily silo’ed within their respective lines of business. To encourage greater cross business collaboration a number of global improvement projects were devised from which participants were drawn from areas identified by the SNA as potentially benefiting most from greater collaboration.
SNA used to analyse a 200+ strong global petroleum engineers network. Used to identify key brokers for incorporation into a broker’s yellow pages
This significant global petroleum company operated a petroleum engineering community of practice with 200+ members. They decided to use SNA as a baseline for a cultural change program that this CoP was facilitating. Traditional survey techniques were used in concert with a data mining exercise on their on-‐line discussion group
The SNA was able to identify that the community was heavily silo’ed to their geographic regions of Australia, USA and UK. The results identified the few critical brokers that bridged these areas. Interventions included employing a 'yellow pages' directory with just the 8 key brokers. The idea was that a call to one of them would provide a qualified contact and be far cheaper to implement than a traditional yellow pages directory. Additionally, the culture change program identified a number of barriers to knowledge sharing with follow up interviews. The online data mining analysis showed that relationships in the physical world were largely being mimicked in the online world.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
2
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Information mapping
This government agency was concerned about the effectiveness of information provision across the agency. They chose to use ONA to identify where information was being sought (people and information stores) and how efficient the process currently is.
The analysis identified a preference for using semi-‐formal systems for sharing information over and above the formal repositories and roles that had been established for information management. Recommendations related to blurring the boundaries between the current solos of information provision and to support the natural information sharing processes, rather than looking to change them to a more rigid and less user friendly approach.
Information flow analysis for Intake processes
This social service government agency was looking to develop a frontline service centre to better manage the the number of calls for its services. Prior to installing a system they were interested in mapping how the current systems and processes worked to ensure that they were not missing any important interactions
A Value Network Analysis workshop was conducted which identified some key role to role interactions that were not catered for in the current design. These insights enabled the agency to better prepare for this major change to their operations.
Operational Performance (Open Knowledge Project)
This major European global oil company was looking for new ways to assess the operational efficiencies, health and safety, know-‐how and overall productivity of their different drilling sites. They settled on using SNA techniques to analyse the working relationships at a particular site with the intention of repeating the study on other drilling sites around the world.
The SNA study addressed each of the performance metrics identified. Areas of underperformance were identified. Natural leaders and brokers between functions were also highlighted. A number of practical network metrics were designed for comparative use when the study moved to other drilling sites. See Bringing SNA Into Mainstream Business for some of the methods used.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
3
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Value Exchange Analysis
This major global mining company operates a substantial internal rail business responsible for carrying ore from the mines to the ports for export.
The stakeholder network was identified in a prior SNA study. With these identified key roles the value exchange workshop was conducted using our stakeholder engagement processes. We identified what the value exchange expectations were from each party.
Internal conflicts were arising between the operations and maintenance teams and the responsible General Manager was looking to use value exchange analysis techniques to resolve the tensions Engineering Community Analysis
This publicly owned rail utility has a long history and a mature workforce. Concerns about an ageing workforce and the potential loss of critical technical capabilities encouraged them to undertake an SNA of their engineering division to assess the potential risks to the organisation
These expectations were then tabled and a negotiation conducted to agree on value exchange accountabilities. These accountabilities were then built into the respective role accountabilities. The SNA was conducted across all the engineering related sub-‐ units including the chief engineering roles. The analysis identified, as expected, some critical personnel that were within 5 years of retirement. Potential successors based on the number of 'shared' relationships they had across the organisation, were identified. It had become apparent that many or these long term staff were more depended on for their 'organisational knowledge' than necessarily their technical knowledge. A re-‐organisation was conducted shortly afterwards to address some of the issues identified in the study.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
4
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Network analysis of SAP communities of practice
This government agency oversees statewide IT functions. Of particular concern was the effectiveness or otherwise of the SAP implementations across the State agencies and the desire to take advantage of the shared expertise and experiences gained across the different agencies
The SNA identified the current level of co-‐operation among the agencies. Key players in the different SAP modules were identified. The degree of dependence on outside contractors was also assessed. Recommendations were made on activities that could be initiated to build a more cohesive and effective SAP community.
Used to measure the effectiveness of a communities of practice program. Was the community structure improving collaboration?
This government agency had responsibility for overseeing corporate governance activities. They had developed a number of 'Communities of Practice' (CoPs) and decided to use SNA to assess their health and contribution
The SNA was able to provide specific metrics on the degree of increased collaboration achieved by the CoPs, vindicating the investment in the program. Additionally, for one CoP who's leader was departing, the analysis confirmed the successor was indeed in the best position to take on the role, providing her with the confidence that she initially lacked.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
5
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Market development group engagement with service providers in support of transformation from a transport to a logistics business
This major shipping, road and rail business had recently established a new market development function. They were keen to assess how connected individuals in the new department were to their main stakeholders in the business and to fill any gaps that existed.
The SNA study was able to identify precisely which relationships the members of the new market development department were bringing to the department.
Analysing the impact of central project co-‐ordination unit
This major government health services agency had created a clinical improvement program as a direct response for demand to standardise processes and share knowledge on best practices across the geographically distributed operational centres. The program was interested in how SNA could assess the effectiveness of their program in engaging their stakeholders
The SNA identified the success of the program in generating engagement with their far flung stakeholders. However an unintended consequence was that engagement had become dependency and with the program only slated for a 3 year life, the SNA showed that if the program staff were removed from the maps that the organisation would revert to what it was before, meaning no sustainable change. Recommendations were made to the program team to shift their focus from service provision to facilitating peer to peer connections, such that a community of business improvement practitioners would exist even after the program had run its course. See Tyranny of Topdown for more information.
It was also able to identify areas of the business that the new market development department had poor coverage of.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
6
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Analysing the training and development function for community cohesion (Open Knowledge project)
The training department of this major European bank had some 3,000 training and development staff located across the business. The functional head was looking to SNA to assess the extent of collbaboration across the group.
The SNA was able to identify a very cohesive function, with a high percentage of reciprocated connections across the function. However, with strong cohesion can come a lack of innovation, a factor that the group head had been concerned with for some time. The analysis was able to identify using a 'strength of week tie' analysis that one of the less mature business units (e-‐learning) was best placed to broker new developments into the group, and recommendations to this effect identifying particular individuals, was provided.
Products community analysis This publicly owned railway utility had created a business unit to concentrate on the design of new products and services that could be offered. This unit would rely heavily on peer business units for their effectiveness. The SNA study had the dual objectives of informing the succession planning process as well as identifying the competency networks within the division Identify how well connected (or not) a global sales force is
This major IT&T outsourcing organisation was interested in how well connected its global workforce was. We used SNA to identify these connections as well as who the key players were in the global sales workforce.
The core dependency analysis show some critical dependency on a few higher profile officers. Recommendations on delegation and sharing the load resulted from this. The trust network analysis showed areas of deep capability but also identified areas where that depth of capability did not currently exist, leading to recommendations on areas for capability development. The results identified a strong polarisation of sales forces around particular regions. With one particular question we asked who people had worked with to win a major deal. From this analysis we were able to identify who the 'gun' staff were in the sales organisations. As it turned out some of these staff were not frontline sales staff, but bid support staff.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
7
Project Snapshots: Organisational Performance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Used to analyse communication and relationship patterns across a technology, engineering and environmental management division. Used as part of a cultural change survey. Re-‐ measured in 2006.
This significant international manufacturer was undertaking a cultural change program across its technical areas.
The SNA provided core measures on the level of collaboration existing across the breadth of technical and engineering areas.
They chose to use SNA to develop a baseline for current levels of collaboration and then to assess progress of the program by repeating the study after a 2 year period
When repeated after the execution of the 2 year cultural change program the results were able to confirm that the levels of cross departmental collaboration and engagement had indeed improved.
Used SNA to identify communication flows between back office functions and disparate business units in an effort to enhance collaboration
This mining resources company was looking to identify potential gaps between people supporting the central core back office functions and the more remote mining sites.
The SNA results were able to identify the extent to which the remote sites were dependent on the core services and the levels of relationships that currently existed. Interventions were planned to address those 'less engaged' sites.
Communications analysis for train division
This major global mining company operates a substantial internal rail business responsible for carrying ore from the mines to the ports for export.
The intent was to improve the levels of collaboration and support provided by these centralised services.
A SNA study was conducted as part of an overall cultural change program, aimed at gaining improved and sustainable collaboration across the division
The SNA described the collaboration patterns across the subunits of the division. Critical staff members who others were reliant on in doing their work were identified and succession risks detailed. The value flows between departments were assessed against the expected process flows to identify potential inefficiencies in the organisation as a whole. Recommendations were made as to where improved collaboration could be achieved through targeted relationship building activities. The results formed a baseline for the cultural change program.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
8
Project Snapshots: Core Competency Assurance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Succession Planning for whole Operations Division
The operations Division is one the the largest in this publicly owned railway utility. The initial SNA was conducted across one department of about 100 staff and then based on the results, expanded to the whole division of some 1,000 staff.
The SNA identified key staff that others were highly dependent on and approaching retirement age. The analysis also identified a strong respect for the hierarchy which was resulting in an overloading of top management who were potential becoming a bottleneck.
The objective of assessing succession risks in an ageing workforce was key, along with a desire to look at areas where the business could be more effectively restructured. A shared business service was being considered that would impact the division.
Expertise mapping. Used to identify core capabilities that may be at risk. Also looked at the level of engagement with external expertise.
Recommendations were made relating to empowering field staff to collaborate in a peer to peer fashion to better service customers. With respect to the shared services proposal, the SNA was able to identify one unit that could be relatively painlessly outsourced to a share service, but another where outsourcing would have caused considerable disruption to the business. The business management made use of the maps to successfully argue their case to the shared services development team.
This state-‐wide water utility, as with many of their peer organisations, were concerned about loss of expertise from an ageing workforce.
The results were able to clearly identify the risk areas down to particular individuals and the disciplines at most risk of depletion to below a sustainable level.
They decided to employ SNA to re-‐assess their core capabilities and the extent to which they were reliant on external expertise
Key external resources in some disciplines were also identified. Interestingly the analysis identified a number of potential 'high flyers' who had managed to become central influencers after only a short time in the organisation.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
9
Project Snapshots: Core Competency Assurance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
ONA used as part of a knowledge audit. To identify knowledge and information flow issues that may exist across the organisation
This Government run water utility was concerned about the sustainability of their core technical capabilities. They decided to undertake a 'Knowledge Audit' to assess their current situation
SNA was used along with some additional Knowledge Management dimensions to deliver the knowledge audit. The key dimensions for the audit were Connectivity, Information Artifacts, Skills and Experience and Heuristic (tacit) knowledge.
ONA of IT Services Division for organisational effectiveness (Open Knowledge project)
This IT division of a major European bank have some 4,000 staff and 40 major business units. The executive were concerned about the silo’ed nature of many of these business units. They chose to undertake an ONA (as opposed to SNA) where job roles became the focus more so than individuals. Job roles and responsibilities were well documented for the division
These dimensions were collected with the SNA survey and matched against key decision points within their overall business processes. The results identified amongst other things, that some of the key line managers were still being relied on for technical leadership. This was not only overloading these individuals, but potentially impacting their effectiveness as line managers. The ONA study was able to identify the collaboration patterns across the organisation. Importantly it identified units that were seriously overloaded by strong dependencies from multiple units. On the other hand there were other units that were not called on much at all but who were draining resources from other units. The ONA maps provided a new dimension for organisational performance for them and insights that had not been available using traditional analytical methods. See Bringing SNA Into Mainstream Business for some of the methods used.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
10
Project Snapshots: Core Competency Assurance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Analysing the training and development function for community co-‐hesion (Open Knowledge project)
The training department of this major European bank had some 3,000 training and development staff located across the business. The functional head was looking to SNA to assess the extent of collbaboration across the group.
The SNA was able to identify a very cohesive function, with a high percentage of reciprocated connections across the function. However, with strong cohesion can come a lack of innovation, a factor that the group head had been concerned with for some time. The analysis was able to identify using a 'strength of week tie' analysis that one of the less mature business units (e-‐learning) was best placed to broker new developments into the group, and recommendations to this effect identifying particular individuals, was provided.
Major downsizing, SNA used to identify risks to the future business of staff leaving
This manufacturing busness was undergoing a serious downsizing with the loss of 2/3 of its staff. The incoming CEO was concerned that the remaining business might not be able to operate with such a loss of expertise. SNA was used to map the core disciplines across the whole business. The future state could easily be represented by taking those slated to leave off the maps, to see what the resulting 'damage' might be.
The analysis clearly showed that most areas would undergo a 'thinning out' of expertise but not necessarily damaging. The exception was two areas where the loss of the most central player would decimate the capability in that area. The intervention designed was to encourage those two individuals to stay on an extra 12 months and to spend this time mentoring those that were going to stay with the business.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
11
Project Snapshots: Core Competency Assurance Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Analysis of on-‐line communities of practice portal site
This global IT&T organisation had developed a portal to host some 700+ self generated communities across the organisation. The aim of the analysis was to assess the core capabilitieds that the self formed CoPs represented based on their membership.
The SNA used affinity analyses to identify where the core clusters of expertise existed across the organisation. As well as providing an overall 'picture' of the organisation's core capabiltiies, it also facilitated some merging of CoPs where significant overlaps had evolved.
Mapping of water expert, investors and other stakeholders.
The client wanted to identify water experts and investors and potential linkages between these to better identify investment options.
Project not completed.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
12
Project Snapshots: Stakeholder Engagement Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Social Network Analysis on UK Adult Participation in Sport Program (Open Knowledge Project)
This major UK local government agency had established a program for encouraging adult participation in sport and recreation ahead of the 2012 Olympics. They were interested in using SNA to assess the effectivenss of the program in engaging the different localities in this activity.
The SNA analysis was able to identify the level of collaboration between the core program members and their regional stakeholders both inside the community and out to external sporting and recreational groups. The analysis showed that whilst the core team was in strong demand they were in danger of being overloaded unless they began to help facilitate more peer to peer support to avoid developing an over-‐ dependence on the core team. See Tyranny of Topdown for more information.
Stakeholder mapping
Public service organisations in particular work with a complex network of stakeholders. Many agencies now fund 'not for profits' to deliver services on their behalf. NFPs typically have multiple funding sources so they themselves also have a complex stakeholder network. The first priority for this client was to get a 'picture' of what their stakeholder network actually looked like. This mental health network was responsible for facilitating statewide services for mental health. While they knew who they worked with directly they had no visibility of how connected their stakeholders were to each other. This is important when one is looking for a depth of capability in a given discipline area. Once visualised it is then possible to plan your interventionsn in a way that optimises stakeholder relationships
The ONA study provided a map of how each stakeholder viewed their own stakeholder network. ONASurveys was used to collect the data, some of which was collected via interview and entered into the survey tool. The resulting network maps were provided for review by the regions. As a community they were then in a position to optimise how mental health services were delivered across the region. The results can be viewed here:
This major shipping, road and rail business had recently established a new market development function. They were keen to assess how connected individuals in the new department were to their main stakeholders in the buisiness and to fill any gaps that existed.
The SNA study was able to identify precisely which relationships the members of the new market development department were bringing to the department. It was also able to identify areas of the business that the new market development department had poor coverage of.
Market development group engagement with service providers in support of transformation from a transport to a logistics business
www.optimice.com.au/qldalliance.php
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
13
Project Snapshots: Market/Business Intelligence Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Network visualisation and query
Since 2004 the has client, on behalf of the an Australian State Government, been benchmarking the performance and practices of the state’s manufacturing industry. More than 500 companies have participated in a manufacturing best practice survey which provides a snapshot of the current state of the surveyed organisation, examining both the practices employed and the performance achieved across a broad range of business processes.This manufacturing best practice institute was conducting research into the productivity of the manufacturing industry in their region. The client wanted to gain more insights into their data-‐set by visualising this using SNA techniques.
Data from the survey was analysed using SNA affinity analysis and visualised in the form of network maps. A web site was established to allow manufacturing stakeholders to peruse these affinity maps which essentially identified clusters of manufacturing performance dimensions that were having most impact on performance.The maps contributed to the establishment of more specific interventions to help the manufacturing sector improve its performance as a whole.
IT market place alliances network. Used to identify the pattern of alliances that exist within the IT services market.
This research study used SNA to map industry alliances in the IT&T market place. Data was drawn from an industry data base on major contracts and partnerships. The sponsor was a key player in this market and was interested in gaining some additional competitive intelligence from the study.
The study was able to visualise the complex ecosystems of partnerships in the industry, with a focus on system integrators and their suppliers. The study was able, for the first time, identify how their competitors' relationships with key suppliers compared to their own. It also identified thoose suppliers in strong leverage positions through having multiple relationships with key systems integrators.
Visual Market Analysis of Australian IT&T Industry 2006-‐2009
This piece of market research was conducted on the IT&T industry using social networking techniques and using the firm as the unit of analysis. The intent was to visualise the relationship networks that form in a market place. These relationships can be contractual i.e. customer/supplier transactions or less formal partnering or sub-‐contracting relationships. The intent was to expose new business intelligence, especially for clients looking to multisource IT services
New market analysis techniques were developed as part of this project. Techniques include a new way of assessing a firm's competitiveness based on the number of unique clients that they have. Also merger and acquisitions can be assessed based on the degree of overlap the parties may have in their business relationships. Other market mapping has been done in the media and mining areas. Read more and download the full report for free at www.visualmarkets.net
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
14
Project Snapshots: Innovation Management Snapshot
Context
Interventions
ONA for Innovation Network prior to Spigit implementation (Open Knowledge Project)
This UK organisation is responsible for the facilities management of public housing. The executive were looking to improve their innovation performance and chose to install the open innovation ideas management platform from Spigit (www.spigit.com).
The SNA study was conducted using the Optimice 3E's of Innovation framework. Key players in the Explore, Engage and Exploit networks were identified from the analysis and recommendations made as to their effective use as early adopters/users of the Spigit platform.
They also agreed to undertake an SNA study to identify those key staff who naturally facilitate innovations across the organisation and who would become effective change agents for the Spigit implementation
The intent was that these natural leaders would influence participation from a broader group, an essential element of the open innovation philosophy.
As part of an initiative to energise the public around ideas for improved clean energy use and sustainability, this organisation established an open forum to collect and discuss ideas from the 'crowd'.
The conversation maps were able to show the organisers the breadth and depth of the conversations being undertaken using the social networking platform.
Mapping of Yammer conversations
The idea for the use of ONA was to be able to visualise the conversation by mapping data from the social networking platform used (Yammer). Maps were updated on a daily basis up to the closing physical event ONA for sustainability
This globally growing engineering services firm had become concerned about the effectiveness of their innovation efforts. They chose to use SNA to identify how well or poorly new ideas were diffusing through the firm and become eventually new innovations for them.
The maps showed clearly how well ideas being offered were being engaged by those who had created the initial 'green energy' challenges and potential 'clients' for the ideas if implemented. The analysis showed that while there were a healthy number of staff interacting on idea generation and development, the senior management themselves were becoming a bottleneck in terms of implementation. Recommendations were made around identified 'brokers' in the organisation to play a more active part in the exploitation of emerging ideas.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
15
Project Snapshots: Event Management Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Membership analysis
This not for profit innovation services professional group was interested in finding out more about its membership in terms of how much they networked amongst each other. One of the group's objectives was to facilitate this form of networking.
The survey and analysis identified that indeed the networking amongst the membership was one of the main reasons that members had subscribed. Many suggested that this was even more vauable than the events that the group regularly ran. The SNA provided some hard data from which the group could build greater cohesion amongst its membership
Used to identify common This major annual technology conference draws 800+ interests between registrants attendees from around the world.SNA was used to help and to assist them seek like attendees network during the event minded partners while attending the conference
A competition was run to see who could physically meet their 10 closest contacts. The winner met all 10, none of whom she knew previously.
Conference Mapping and Community Mapping
The affinity mapping exercise provided a clear picture of how their membership was distributed amongst the key interest topics that the community leaders had identified. Being an on-‐ line map, the attendees at the annual conference could quickly identify those of 'like minds' that they would try and meet up with face to face at the event. The health check network analysis indicated that the degree of cohesion amongst the members of the network was indeed stronger than when the last review had been conducted 2 years previously
This professional group is supported by companies with paid memberships. The group leaders chose ONAsurveys and SNA to do a health check of their existing network. The group also ran an annual conference which they also condicted an affinity mapping survey to better understand the needs and interests of their membership.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
16
Project Snapshots: Program Management Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Mapping of project interdependencies in a large complex portfolio. Part of a research project which Optimice and University of Technology Sydney (Australia) has been running for 2 years.
The client had more than 30 projects managed by 30 differerent PMs and under governance of a PMO. The PMO wated to understand the dependencies between the projects and see of the PMs shared the same view of these interdependencies.
The top executive is quoted to say that "This is like moving from 2D to 3D". It allowed the executive to make instance decision on resource allocation.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
17
Project Snapshots: Alliance Management, Outsourcing, Supply Chain Snapshot
Context
Interventions
IT market place alliances network. Used to identify the pattern of alliances that exist within the IT services market.
This research study used SNA to map industry alliances in the IT&T market place. Data was drawn from an industry data base on major contracts and partnerships. The sponsor was a key player in this market and was interested in gaining some additional competitive intelligence from the study.
The study was able to visualise the complex ecosystems of partnerships in the industry, with a focus on system integrators and their suppliers. The study was able, for the first time, identify how their competitors' relationships with key suppliers compared to their own. It also identified thoose suppliers in strong leverage positions through having multiple relationships with key systems integrators.
Visual Market Analysis of Australian IT&T Industry 2006-‐2009
This piece of market research was conducted on the IT&T industry using social networking techniques and using the firm as the unit of analysis. The intent was to visualise the relationship networks that form in a market place. These relationships can be contractual i.e. customer/supplier transactions or less formal partnering or sub-‐contracting relationships. The intent was to expose new business intelligence, especially for clients looking to multisource IT services
New market analysis techniques were developed as part of this project. Techniques include a new way of assessing a firm's competitiveness based on the number of unique clients that they have. Also merger and acquisitions can be assessed based on the degree of overlap the parties may have in their business relationships. Other market mapping has been done in the media and mining areas. Read more and download the full report for free at www.visualmarkets.net
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
18
Project Snapshots: Alliance Management, Outsourcing, Supply Chain Snapshot
Context
Interventions
Outsourcing relationship mapping and analysis
This IT&T outsourcing relationship had been operating for many years and the participants were interested in using SNA to assess the degree of relationshiops that had been formed over that time.
The SNA identified that the outsourcing unit had developed tight relationships around the team, but their connections with the client were still being facilitated by a handful of key 'account management' staff. In essence the client relationship was being orchestrated and therefore was far from broad based. Some of the best relationships outside the account team were the executive desktop support team who interacted directly with senior client management. Recommendations were made to leverage such opportunities to develop a more broad based engagement between the outsourcer and its client.
IT Systems effectiveness (Open Knowledge Project)
This plastics recycling business operated a number of sites where waste material was collected, sorted and recycled. The IT department looked to use ONA to identify potential gaps in their systems support for the supply chain activities
The analysis initially confirmed that the informal modes of collaboration were consistent with the designed supply chain processes. Respondents to the ONA survey were given the opportunity to identify systems support gaps or shortcomings. Resolutions to fill these gaps formed the major part of the recommendations
Market development group engagement with service providers in support of transformation from a transport to a logistics business
This major shipping, road and rail business had recently established a new market development function. They were keen to assess how connected individuals in the new department were to their main stakeholders in the business and to fill any gaps that existed.
The SNA study was able to identify precisely which relationships the members of the new market development department were bringing to the department. It was also able to identify areas of the business that the new market development department had poor coverage of.
www.optimice.com.au – Commercial in Confidence
19