As AI Spreads at Work, Organizational Psychologist Says Companies Are Missing the People Who Make Change Stick

Phoenix author Dr. Deb Peck explains how hidden workplace connections shape AI adoption, succession and organizational change

PHOENIX, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies can buy AI tools and train employees to use them. But if leaders overlook the people whom colleagues trust for advice, those investments may fail to change how work gets done, says organizational psychologist and Phoenix author Dr. Deborah Peck.

"When leaders attempt to roll out major AI initiatives or navigate organizational changes, such as massive retirements, managing individuals and task metrics is no longer enough," Peck said. "You must understand how information, influence, and trust actually move through the entire workforce."

The timing is critical: In a 2026 Gallup survey, among employees at organizations that implement AI, 78% of those who strongly agreed that their manager supports its use reported using AI frequently. This number indicates that the purpose of using AI is critical for the leader to communicate. With the rapid growth of AI, employees may feel competitive. The risk could mean that experts do not share their knowledge and there is reduced trust within teams that cause deadline or budget impacts. Organizational Network Analysis, or ONA, is a relationship science that can measure these changes.

In Turning Intuition Into Science: Harnessing the Power of Organizational Network Analysis, Peck describes a way to map the informal relationships that an organizational chart misses: who employees ask for help, who connects teams and where vital knowledge rests with only a few people. ONA can give leaders a clearer picture before they redesign workflows, introduce technology or lose experienced staff.

The book draws on Peck's work across technology companies, large enterprises and public sector organizations. Its examples include succession planning in municipal first responder departments and collaboration across teams in enterprise technology settings. Those settings pose different challenges but the leadership question is similar: Who actually helps information and trust move through the organization?

For Greater Phoenix employers and public agencies managing growth, new technology and workforce transitions, Peck offers a local voice on a national challenge. She can discuss practical concerns for executives: Which employees are the trusted guides during an AI rollout? Where would a retirement or departure break the flow of knowledge? Which teams appear connected on paper but rarely exchange what they need to do their work?

Peck cautions that mapping relationships is a starting point for listening and planning, not a way to label employees as resistant to change. Leaders still need clear expectations, useful tools and room for staff to raise concerns about privacy, workload and the purpose of 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.

About Dr. Deborah Peck
Deborah Peck, Ph.D., is president and founder of Seity Insight, Inc. An industrial and organizational psychologist, she helps organizations use Organizational Network Analysis to understand workforce relationships and address leadership challenges. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Her experience spans startups, Fortune 100 companies and public sector organizations. Her work has been featured in Scottsdale at Work, HR Tech, AZ 2020 Resources for Growth Publication and Arizona Women. Learn more at seity.com.

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