Social Network Mapping
A diagnostic method for visualising informal communication, collaboration, and influence networks within an organisation or community — revealing the hidden structure that sits beneath the formal org chart. Who actually goes to whom for information? Who are the connectors, the bottlenecks, the isolated people? Social network mapping informs leadership development, collaboration design, and change management.
Cómo ejecutarlo
- 1
Design a short survey: 'Who do you go to most frequently for work-related information or advice? Who do you collaborate with most? Who do you trust most for honest feedback?'
- 2
Distribute to all participants. Keep responses confidential.
- 3
Map the responses: draw nodes (people) and directed edges (relationships) based on survey data. Software tools (Kumu, NodeXL) automate this.
- 4
Analyse the map: identify central connectors (high in-degree), isolated nodes, bridges between clusters, and bottlenecks.
- 5
Present the map to the group. Discuss: what surprises you? What risks do you see? Who is over-relied upon?
- 6
Use insights to design interventions: distribute knowledge, build bridges, develop overlooked talent.
Consejos
Keep the map anonymised when presenting to groups — specific individual data should only go to relevant managers or the individuals themselves.
The goal is pattern recognition, not surveillance.
Central connectors burning out is one of the most common and most invisible organisational risks.
Variaciones
Run a 'hand-drawn' network map workshop: participants draw who they collaborate with on a shared board — less rigorous but fast. Combine with Stakeholder Mapping for external networks.
Casos de uso
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