Social Network Analysis in Lean Thinking: A Method for Improving Information Flow in Technical Integrity Management System Development

Due to the unstable oil price in recent years, engineering contractors and oil and gas companies have been trying to implement lean thinking to reduce the cost of developing technical integrity management system (TIMS) and improve work quality. Improving information flow becomes a critical element of lean thinking in the TIMS development process because of its multidisciplinary and knowledge-intensive nature. Process visualization is normally performed to identify the opportunities for improving information flow. However, process visualization in a knowledge-intensive process is challenging, due to its high complexity, branching information flow, and the presence of informal networks of information among personnel. This paper proposes social network analysis (SNA) as the tool for visualizing knowledge and information flow in the TIMS development process. SNA adopts a network perspective, which makes it suitable for observing complex information and knowledge flow. SNA also allows the observation of informal interactions of the actors and the regular patterns of relationship between the actors in the network. A case study is provided to demonstrate the application of SNA and to illustrate how SNA contributes to improving information flow.

[1]  Tony Gorschek,et al.  The lean gap: A review of lean approaches to large-scale software systems development , 2013, J. Syst. Softw..

[2]  Bradley R. Staats,et al.  Lean principles, learning, and knowledge work: Evidence from a software services provider , 2011 .

[3]  Lada A. Adamic,et al.  Information flow in social groups , 2003, cond-mat/0305305.

[4]  P. Bonacich.  Power and Centrality: A Family of Measures , 1987, American Journal of Sociology.

[5]  B Haque,et al.  Lean engineering in the aerospace industry , 2003 .

[6]  Yuri W. Ramirez,et al.  Measuring knowledge work: the knowledge work quantification framework , 2008 .

[7]  Stanley Wasserman,et al.  Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications , 1994, Structural analysis in the social sciences.

[8]  R. Hanneman.  Introduction to Social Network Methods , 2001 .

[9]  Salvatore Parise.  Knowledge Management and Human Resource Development: An Application in Social Network Analysis Methods , 2007 .

[10]  H. Negele,et al.  Modeling of Integrated Product Development Processes , 1999 .

[11]  Aric Hagberg,et al.  Exploring Network Structure, Dynamics, and Function using NetworkX , 2008, Proceedings of the Python in Science Conference.

[12]  Mark Newman,et al.  Networks: An Introduction , 2010 .

[13]  Ulrik Brandes,et al.  On variants of shortest-path betweenness centrality and their generic computation , 2008, Soc. Networks.

[14]  Pasi Pyöriä,et al.  The concept of knowledge work revisited , 2005, J. Knowl. Manag..

[15]  R. M. Chandima Ratnayake,et al.  Modelling of asset integrity management process: a case study for computing operational integrity preference weights , 2012 .

[16]  L. Freeman.  Centrality in social networks conceptual clarification , 1978 .

[17]  Mary Poppendieck,et al.  Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit , 2003 .

[18]  John-Paul Hatala.  Social Network Analysis in Human Resource Development: A New Methodology , 2006 .

[19]  Clark Hu,et al.  Visual representation of knowledge networks: A social network analysis of hospitality research domain , 2008 .

[20]  Fernando Antonio Forcellini,et al.  Value Stream Mapping: a study about the problems and challenges found in the literature from the past 15 years about application of Lean tools , 2014, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

[21]  Tyson R. Browning,et al.  Key concepts in modeling product development processes , 2006 .

[22]  Susan Albers Mohrman,et al.  Designing Team-Based Organizations: New Forms for Knowledge Work , 1995 .

[23]  Jay Liebowitz,et al.  The synergy of social network analysis and knowledge mapping: a case study , 2006 .

[24]  R. M. Chandima Ratnayake,et al.  Technical integrity management: measuring HSE awareness using AHP in selecting a maintenance strategy , 2010 .

[25]  Tyson R. Browning,et al.  On customer value and improvement in product development processes , 2003 .

[26]  Andrew Parker,et al.  Knowing What We Know: Supporting Knowledge Creation and Sharing in Social Networks , 2001 .

[27]  R. M. Chandima Ratnayake,et al.  Asset integrity management for sustainable industrial operations: measuring the performance , 2012 .

[28]  R. Cross,et al.  The people who make organizations go--or stop. , 2002, Harvard business review.

[29]  Jay Liebowitz.  The Hidden Power of Social Networks and Knowledge Sharing in Healthcare , 2007 .

[30]  Herbert Negele,et al.  4 Modeling of Integrated Product Development Processes , 1999 .

[31]  S. Borgatti,et al.  The Network Paradigm in Organizational Research: A Review and Typology , 2003 .

[32]  C. Haythornthwaite.  Social network analysis: An approach and technique for the study of information exchange☆ , 1996 .