Description Long
The method aims to analyse existing connections and interactions within a group or organisation in order to optimise strategic decisions and actions. Initially, relationships within the network are identified through interviews, observations, or digital tools such as surveys and online platforms. In the subsequent visualisation phase, a sociogram or matrix is created to reveal connections, key actors, and potential gaps in the network. Finally, the visualisation is collaboratively analysed to identify patterns, determine areas of influence, and derive concrete actions.
This approach can, for example, help to better understand a target group, internal workflows within an organisation, or relationships between organisations – and to develop appropriate solutions for the people involved. The focus is not on individuals and their characteristics, but on the connections and interdependencies between them. Important aspects are often overlooked, or initiatives miss the mark, because users, colleagues or stakeholders are organised and collaborate differently than originally assumed. For instance, a design team working on a kitchen for people using wheelchairs discovered that these individuals were often integrated into a family setting. Therefore, the kitchen needed features that support shared living. Had the design focused exclusively on the specific needs of the wheelchair user, it might have unintentionally undermined the experience of the household as a whole.
