Social network analysis and operational effectiveness theory in organizations

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.).

Use of Theories

By definition these theories are both concerned with the interactions of what goes on within the organization. Social Network Analysis focuses on the interrelations of the actors within an organization while the Operational Effectiveness Theory focuses on the interrelation of the processes within the organization. These two theories can be used together to not only improve the processes that are used by organization to improve their strategic plans but then can use these improved strategic plans to enhance the relations between the actors in order to increase overall organizational effectiveness. The ultimate goal of every organization is to be stable and successful. These two theories can be used in conjunction with each other to make the processes within the organization the best they can be and as a result the processes will allow the people within the organization to be the best they can be. If all process and people have been optimized the organization will be very successful.