The key connectors that hold the trust networks in place in any organizational culture have the most to lose when a change is proposed. The reason for this behavior is straightforward. The way things are “now” is what has made these connectors so central in defining the cultural values and the current state of affairs. Unless these “key connectors” can be persuaded to support the change initiative, they will placidly acquiesce and then after one year, the culture will drift back to the “way things were.” Generally most organizational leaders will tap the “usual” suspects (their own network of “go to” people) and consequently, all their change efforts will be for naught because their network is not the network that will produce lasting change. Therefore, in order to produce sustainable change, the trust networks of the key connectors must be identified and then leveraged. First the key connectors are identified and brought in to the change efforts early-on to help shape the change initiative. Generally, they are used to populate strategy and change teams. These key connectors are trusted, but “unusual” suspects. As such, they are often not tapped, because they are unseen and therefore lie dormant until a threat to the general well-being of the culture emerges. This is where NetForm analysis can provide a lasting solution before an emergency necessitates it. NetForm has algorithms that select certain networks from the seven network questions and differentially “weights” the key connectors (Hubs, Pulsetakers and Gatekeepers) with different values depending on their networks. Only certain connectors in certain networks are used to neutralize resistance to change and then communicate the positive values of the proposed change. This approach has been used by the US Army, HP and IBM.
Press Releases
→ Upcoming Event: RightBrains Events; Network science, Einstein and show-stopping data: Dr. Karen Stephenson, one of the keynote speakers at our June summer event! Don’t miss out on a chance to learn how technology enhances the power of networks! Tickets are available here
→ July 2019 - IntechOpen: The Clash of Cultures: Digerati and Devolution in the Twenty-First Century
→ May 2019 - RightBrains: The ‘accidental’ anthropologist
→ October 2018 - TrustSphere: Social Network Analysis Pioneer, Dr. Karen Stephenson Joins TrustSphere to Build its Science Advisory Board
→ January 2013 - Greensboro, NC: Social Network Analysis Expert Karen Stephenson Named Visiting Fellow at The Center for Creative LeadershipTestimonials
Vice Admiral McGinn, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs at the Pentagon credits a NetForm analysis with breaking a bureaucratic logjam. “I think the metaphor Karen uses of being a radiologist for organizations is a good one,” McGinn says. “You take an X-ray or you take a scan of an organization with a survey, and then you analyze that scan to determine appropriate interventions.”
Vice Admiral McGinn, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
Warfare Requirements and Programs at the PentagonJuan Carlos Bueno, CEO of Agar-Cross Dupont in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had the following to say when asked about his evaluation of NetForm’s services used during the adoption of a de-centralized business model that required large-scale organizational change: “Without a doubt, they dominate the network analysis tool, and what they obtain from it is excellent.”
Juan Carlos Bueno, CEO
Agar-Cross DupontJim Hackett, CEO of Steelcase, used NetForm to develop a new e-commerce business. “I am very excited about your relationship with us and our potential to change the impact of our products and planning principles to help our customers. It's a very plum thing for Steelcase when we get recognized for knowledge alliances like yours.”
Jim Hackett, CEO
SteelcaseInternational Paper employed NetForm Analysis during the acquisition of a Corrugated Paper facility in Wooster, Ohio. Edwin Ford, Plant Superintendent for the International Paper Corrugating plant found NetForm’s analysis of merger activity between two IP plants to be extremely useful. Ford explained: “I was astounded not only by the power of the data, but by the visual formatting of it as well. I did not anticipate how useful the survey results would be.”
International PaperNetForm showed us how to increase the value of our company by leveraging the knowledge of our employees. I was able to successfully implement an acquisition strategy and sell the company at a much higher valuation.
Ken Follansbee, CEO
CTINetForm identified significant gaps in our global structure. The analysis allowed us to quickly see where knowledge transfer was not occurring along global product lines. We then developed appropriate intervention techniques which ultimately proved significant in increasing revenue streams, particularly in the non-US regions.
Maria Leo, First Vice President
Merrill LynchWe identified strategic gaps using network analysis and this allowed our top leadership to effectively change its compensation structure to better recognize and reward team performance. The company reaped the benefits.
Joe Movizzo, EVP
Consulting Services"I never knew we could use data like this to help us better organize and merge our divisions. It is the best consulting dollar I have ever spent.”
Corey Billington, Head of the Procurement
Hewlett-PackardNetForm® Resource Clients Include:
- JPMorgan
- Merrill Lynch
- Harvard
- Mobil/Shell
- IBM
- International Paper
- Hewlett-Packard
- The Department of Defense