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

Value of Organizational Network Analysis

From “Change Readiness” to Network Readiness

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 Help Managers Take Steps to Overcome Burnout

By Kittie Watson | July 11, 2022

“I don’t have stress, but may be a carrier.” — Erma Bombeck As company leaders look for ways to turn the tide on the great resignation, one factor may have been overlooked: burnout. It not only contributes to an employee’s decision to leave, it also significantly impacts their health and wellness. According to a recent […]

5 Tips for Women in Leadership

By Megan McGlothin | June 17, 2022

Whether you are launching into your first leadership role or enjoying a well-deserved promotion, as a woman (especially a woman of color), it often feels like you need to prove yourself and your capabilities to your team. To boost your confidence and remind you that “You’ve got this,” we offer five success factors with tips […]

Leaders Can Halt the Great Resignation — Stop Talking & Start Listening

By Megan McGlothin | May 23, 2022

Several years ago, an Innolect executive coach was featured on an ABC 20/20 segment entitled, “Excessive Talking.” The piece highlighted a newly hired leader who had something to add to every conversation, interrupted others in meetings, failed to ask questions of his team—and had been divorced twice. He talked too much. When his manager noticed […]