Increasing Knowledge Worker Efficiency through a "Virtual Mirror" of the Social Network

TL;DR

This paper presents a case study on enhancing team collaboration and efficiency by analyzing social network structures through combined survey and email data, leading to targeted interventions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach of combining manual survey and email-based social network analysis to improve team collaboration and efficiency.

Findings

Improved team efficiency by bridging structural holes.

Reduced stress for overburdened team members.

Enhanced job satisfaction through optimized network structures.

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a case study describing the combination of manual survey-based and e-mail-based social network analysis. The goal of the project was to increase collaboration efficiency in a team of consultants of a major high tech manufacturer. By analyzing the social network of a team of 42 consultants and comparing it with their utilization as the dependent variable, their efficiency in working together was improved in various way by bridging structure holes and eliminating bottlenecks, reducing stress for overburdened individuals, connecting isolated individuals and identifying the best network structures for high utilization and increased job satisfaction.