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

Virtual Leadership: Address These Common Challenges

By Megan McGlothin | September 28, 2021

Many leaders are currently leading their teams online instead of in-person. It’s no surprise that there is now overwhelming and sometimes conflicting advice about how best to be a virtual leader. All the chatter makes it difficult to know where to focus. Below, we highlighted three (3) common challenges in leading a virtual workforce, and […]

Do Expectations Set You Up to Fail?

By Becky Ripley | August 26, 2021

“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.” — Stephen W. Hawking, English Physicist “Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” — Brandon Sanderson, Author Expectation Management: Key to Your Success Whether aware or not, […]

Lead from Within: Self-Care Strategies for Leaders

By Megan McGlothin | August 25, 2021

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgence triggered by the Delta variant has placed an incredible amount of pressure and stress on all of us. This stress is even higher for leaders. You have the added responsibility of driving business success and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, all while navigating strange […]