Title: Increasing knowledge worker productivity through a 'virtual mirror' of the social network

Authors: Stori Lynn Hybbeneth; Dirk Brunnberg; Peter A. Gloor

Addresses: Cisco, 9155 E. Nichols Avenue, Suite 400, Englewood CO 80112, USA ' Zeppelin University, Am Seemooser Horn 20, 88045 Friedrichshafen, Germany ' MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02138, USA

Abstract: In this paper, we introduce a case study describing the combination of manual survey-based and e-mail-based social network analysis, complemented by an analysis of other electronic means of communication. We present a series of social network-based predictors for collaboration efficiency in knowledge worker teams. This paper illustrates a new way to increase efficiency in working together by analysing the social network of a team of 42 consultants in a high-tech company and comparing it with their utilisation. By bridging structure holes and eliminating bottlenecks, reducing stress for overburdened individuals, connecting isolated individuals and identifying the best network structures for high utilisation and increased job satisfaction our approach offers a blueprint for SNA-based organisational redesign and optimisation.

Keywords: knowledge workers; productivity; virtual mirror; social networks; organisational design; social network analysis; SNA; organisational network analysis; collaboration efficiency; teamwork; high-tech teams; high technology firms; organisational redesign; optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJODE.2014.065095

International Journal of Organisational Design and Engineering, 2014 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.302 - 316

Published online: 25 Oct 2014 *

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