Organizational Network Analysis (ONA)

Workplace Effectiveness Change Architecture Organizational Network Analysis
Organizational Assessment Strategic Planning

See How Work Really Gets Done—Before Your Next Change

Informal networks drive up to 80% of performance. Yet most leaders plan change as if formal structure is what matters.

Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) makes invisible networks visible—so leaders can see how information, influence and work actually flow across the enterprise.

Organizational Analysis chart Expectation vs. Reality

What ONA Reveals That Traditional Analytics Miss

Drawing on leading research in systems and network dynamics, ONA shows how people truly:

Collaborate across boundaries
Share (or withhold) information
Solve problems when pressure rises
Influence decisions and adoption
Get work done—despite formal processes

Instead of averages, ONA exposes structural differences that drive outcomes: overload, bottlenecks, fragility and untapped resilience.

What Leaders Learn—Quickly and Credibly

ONA surfaces what leaders need to know but rarely see:

Who people actually go to for decisions and problem-solving
Where hidden risks and points of failure live
Which subject matter experts are isolated or underutilized
How communication really moves across silos
Who holds informal power and influence
Why some changes spread—and others stall
Where innovation and knowledge sharing break down

From “Change Readiness” to Network Readiness

ONA: Traditional Readiness vs. Network Readiness

ONA sets the stage for change success—before formal announcements are made.

ONA Works (Without Survey Fatigue)

Ahead of a transformation, we:

Map informal influencers, sense-makers, and blockers
Identify a small, credible “change spine” instead of hoping mass communication works
Surface assets and liabilities in your change network

A focused ONA—often as few as 10 questions over 2–3 weeks to reveal where change will accelerate or fracture.

Ready to See Your Organization Clearly?

If you’re planning a transformation—or wondering why past ones stalled—ONA provides the insight leaders need to act with confidence.

♦ Talk with Innolect about an Organizational Network Analysis
♦ Or read our article in Strategy+Business: Using a Network Strategy to Align a Multinational Organization

Explore Recent Blogs

How to Strengthen Belonging: Four Keys to Overcome Voluntary Turnover

By Kittie Watson | September 18, 2023

What if a third of your workforce walked out the door tomorrow? A new survey by Bankrate suggests that over 37% of employees say they’ll be looking for a new job in the next twelve months. With the high cost of voluntary turnover, organizations need to reconsider how to create high-integrity workplaces and cultures where employees […]

Self-Awareness: The Cornerstone of Great Leadership

By Megan McGlothin | September 8, 2023

Honesty, drive and perseverance are all qualities of good leadership. But one of the key attributes that sets great leaders apart from good ones is self-awareness. The most successful and inspiring leaders are both introspective and self-aware. They foster a culture that builds and promotes trust, which results in happy and productive employees. Self-awareness can […]

Five Ways to Help Employees Overcome Their Fears about ChatGPT

By Becky Ripley | July 26, 2023

“Today’s technology was yesterday’s science fiction.” —Rodrigue Rizk Sam Altman, the Google geek who founded AI, quit so he could warn the public about inherent risks. Congress is scrambling to learn more and explore regulations that might be needed for AI. And employees are skittish about their personal long-term viability as AI usage increases. […]