Phoenix – October 01, 2026 -- Companies rolling out AI tools risk failed adoption if leaders ignore the informal trust networks that determine whether employees actually change how they work, according to organizational psychologist Dr. Deborah Peck.
Gallup data shows manager support drives 78% AI usage rate
A 2026 Gallup survey found that among employees at organizations implementing AI, 78% of those who strongly agreed their manager supports its use reported using the technology frequently. Peck said this gap shows that communicating the purpose of AI tools is as critical as deploying them, since employees who feel competitive about AI may withhold knowledge from colleagues, straining team trust and risking deadline or budget impacts.
New book maps relationships an org chart cannot show
Peck's book, "Turning Intuition Into Science: Harnessing the Power of Organizational Network Analysis," details Organizational Network Analysis (ONA), a method for identifying which employees colleagues actually turn to for help, which individuals connect separate teams, and where critical knowledge is concentrated in only a few people. Peck argues leaders need this map before redesigning workflows, introducing new technology, or managing workforce turnover.
Peck draws on cases from municipal agencies to enterprise tech firms
The book's examples span succession planning in municipal first responder departments and cross-team collaboration inside enterprise technology companies. Despite differing contexts, Peck frames the core leadership question as constant: who moves information and trust through an organization, regardless of what the formal structure suggests.
Analysis targets AI rollouts, retirements and workforce transitions
Peck said the framework is aimed at executives managing three concrete risks: identifying which employees serve as trusted guides during an AI rollout, determining where a retirement or departure would break a knowledge chain, and spotting teams that appear connected organizationally but rarely exchange the information needed to do their jobs.
Peck cautioned that mapping relationships should inform listening and planning rather than label employees as resistant to change, adding that leaders still need clear expectations and channels for staff to raise concerns about privacy and workload tied to new technology.
"Turning Intuition Into Science: Harnessing the Power of Organizational Network Analysis" is available in hardcover, paperback and ebook formats through major online booksellers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.