Labor dispute reconciliation in a forest products manufacturing facility

This is a case study where social network analysis is used to illustrate the communication structure among a group of striking employees and to reconcile the dispute at a forest products manufacturing facility. All striking production employees at this facility were surveyed and network analysis techniques were employed to provide both graphical and quantitative demonstrations of the communication structure among the employees. The communication structure illustrates employees who were gatekeepers and brokers of strike-related communications. This information was subsequently used by the organization to redirect its management-labor communication strategy, with the direct result being an end to the work stoppage. Implications are drawn for management to increase its understanding of communication structures for the purpose of better utilizing its human capital.