Social Networks and Sociograms slide share - week 3

I have seen sociograms before, used to illustrate communication within or between organizations, but I didn't know the language of "sociograms", "steps", and "hubs".  So this was interesting to learn.

Above illustration from M. C. Kegler's studies at Emory University using network analysis to illustrate how collaboration developed over time among Native American tribal members and US government agencies.

I remember studying a sociogram (source unknown) developed from an analysis of phone and email contacts within a large company.  The startling realization from the sociogram was that the company's managers, thought of as being very important to communication, had fewer connections and communications than people without named management roles.  For example, some administrative employees had the potential to wield influence across the company through frequent communications with people at all levels.

These admins may not have recognized the potential of their communications to be influential, and they were likely not formally empowered to wield influence, but they were undoubtedly positioned to be the chief change agents in their organizations if only they would use their networks.