Social Network Analysis

Once we identified the roles, we elaborated the relationships between roles using a group role-play exercise based on CRC cards [BibRef-Beck1991]. We then built organizational models based on these data, drawing heavily on social network theory and social network analysis. Social network theory was first developed by Moreno [BibRef-Moreno1934] to build models of the structure of interacting groups of people. We sought patterns across the models of numerous organizations, and that is the basis for the material in this book.

We presented an overview of the social network analysis techniques earlier in the book (HowThePatternsCameToUs). In the following sections, starting with DistillingThePatterns, we describe our research methodology in more detail.