Organisational network analysis (ONA) is used to map employee work relationships and communication patterns. ONA has been around for more than 50 years, but thanks to developments in technology, new ways of working, and the realisation by many leaders that people - and more importantly, relationships - really do matter.

ONA pulls from social network and social capital theory. While we are seeing rapid growth in using ONA, many practitioners lack the foundational knowledge of networks and the theory that helps inform the hypotheses you generate, and the analysis you conduct. This session will provide a brief history of ONA, introduce you to basic network characteristics and the theories that underpin them, and end with practical applications of its use.

ONA is an extremely powerful method that, if used improperly, can lead to inaccurate insights. Understanding the theory and key measures used in ONA will help you to reap the amazing benefits of analysing your employees as an interconnected network, where the value to an organisation is greater than the sum of its parts.

This session will explore:

- A history of ONA
- Theoretical foundations of ONA: attributes and characteristics of networks
- Techniques for gathering data
- Practical applications of ONA.

Learning outcomes:

- Better understand the theories that inform network analysis
- Learn about the pros and cons of the various techniques that can be used to measure networks
- Understand the many and varied ways in which ONA can help answer both business and people questions.