Operations Theory Comparison Social Network

Operations

Theory Comparison

Social Network Analysis

Network analysis is the study of social relations amongst a set of actors. It is a field of study that searches to understand a set of phenomena or data. In the course of working in this field, network researchers have developed a group of distinctive theoretical perspectives. "Some of the hallmarks of these perspectives are: focus on relationships between actors rather than attributes of actors, sense of interdependence: a molecular rather atomistic view, structure affects substantive outcomes and emergent effects" (What Is Social Network Analysis, n.d.). Network theory is characterized by a distinguishing methodology encircling techniques for gathering data, statistical analysis and visual depiction.

The field of network analysis is traditionally criticized for being too methodological and not theoretical enough. Critics say that there are few truly network theories of substantive phenomena. This is not a good dispute, however, because when instances of network theories are presented, critics say that they are not really network theories. This is understandable since theories that account for, psychological phenomena tend to have a lot of psychological content and theories that account for sociological phenomena have sociological independent variables. It is only theories that explain network phenomena that tend to have a lot of network content (What Is Social Network Analysis, n.d.).

Operational Effectiveness Theory

While networks have been around forever, a more focused practice of network effectiveness is only just becoming popular. It brings together a variety of well established practices, like community organizing, multi-stakeholder negotiations, and organizational development, with developing knowledge of social network theory and a growing base of experience in utilizing new communications technologies to organize and join forces for social impact. "At present, practitioners of network effectiveness tend to ground their work within one of the above disciplines and its associated toolkit; yet, they are often working toward similar goals of network or inter-organizational effectiveness" (Network Effectiveness Theory of Change, 2010).

One major strength of this theory is that it creates the occasion for strategy development by inventing new technologies or methods. It looks at where the company is and where it wants to go and develops a plan on how to get there. Managers must lead and organize the functional activities within the organisation, assess and develop the processes that they are responsible for, and influence those processes through standardization, communication and automation to then close the gap in order to provide ever increasing efficiency and effectiveness. It is this strategy's role to mould these functions into a rational organisational whole that will succeed in the chosen markets (Network Effectiveness Theory of Change, 2010).

Use of Theories