A New Method for Supporting Information Management in Engineering-consulting Companies: Organizational Network Analysis

Abstract

Organizational performance depends on specialized information that is transfered throughout an organization via communication networks among employees. Interactions that occur within these networks are poorly understood and are generally unmanaged. In this case study, we describe a method that has potential to provide systematic support for information management in engineering- consulting companies. We applied organizational network analysis, a method for studying communication networks, to assess the method’s utility to support decision making for the managers of engineering-consulting companies in civil industry, and to determine what links existed between information use and the agency processes. Data on communication links among a company’s department’s staff was obtained via a survey with a 94% response rate, and were analyzed by the Organizational Risk Analyzer (ORA) software. The findings described the structure of information flow in the department’s communication networks. Results indicated that communications among employees between divisions were weak especially among experts staff. Shared situation awareness of organizational processes is low. However, speed of information flow was good. The analysis results in providing better insights into organizational processes for managers to address problems and to take advantage of network strengths