Social network analysisImpact you can see

CAPACITY research and resonance inc

Social network analysisWhat is it? Social network analysis views social relationships in terms of network theory consisting of nodes (representing individual actors within the network) and connections or links (which represent relationships between the individuals). These networks are often depicted in a social network diagram, where nodes are the points and ties are the lines.

OK, very cool, but what can we do with it?

Here’s a hypothetical example involving government relations. Success in government relations and advocacy of course relies on relationships and networks, and it is critical to understand networks STRATEGICALLY

In this example, the Board of Directors of a housing support association want to explore strategic linkages in other sectors. They are already well connected in the community safety world, but they know it’s important to join forces with key players in community health. How are they going to do this?

Key questions would be – who do they already know, and to whom who should they reach out?This is a complex area, with many players in policy and delivery. Attacking this problem will require planned outreach and relationship-building. So, how can they map this out?

You can try the flip chart method, sticky notes, drawing arrows and circles, but it’s confusing and difficult and you will miss key information

Social network analysis lets your group input their set of mutual and separate connections to key players. Usually this should mean strong connections,,, someone who will take your call. After a short period, you will have a data matrix – still looks awful, but….

Network analysis software turns this data into a picture of the connections that your group has input. This is a hypothetical view, actually generated by data fabricated for this demonstration, but it is typical of the kind of result you would probably see. It might still look confusing, but look closer.

Here’s the Housing Association, Board members, President and Executive Director. They are of course interconnected, and hence are clustered here.

Similarly, the community safety actors can be assumed to know each other, and form another cluster

And the community health players constitute another cluster. This is where the housing association would like to connect

So, where do we need to make connections? The Executive Director is not well connected in health, but is connected to the staff of the public safety minister, the Prime Minister’s office and the department of finance

This Board member is connected to the Minister for community health and the ADM for safety, who is herself well connected in health

Board member #5 is well connected to health associations, all of whom can help bring the housing agenda into play

Challenges – the President is connected in safety but not in health. Some Board members may have more capacity to engage, and the PCO needs connecting

reach

connections

collaborations

clustersdiffusion

research

marketing

policy

performance

evaluation technology

social

advocacy

This hypothetical example illustrated the possibility of application of social network analysis to many fields, including diffusion of information and technology, inter-organizational collaboration, policy and evaluation

Here’s another example, in the field of community development. How can you see the intricate connections that are necessary for achieving, and demonstrating progress toward, community development?

Suppose you are running a community engagement program for seniors. You might want to see if you were making a difference by hosting bridge nights. The idea is that participants would make friends and be less isolated. How would you produce a systematic measure of progress toward that goal?

Again, social network analysis techniques, working with the participants, can give you a rich data set

As in the previous example, we can turn this data into an intuitively accessible picture. This view, as before, generated for this demonstration, might summarize the “before” situation, at the start of the program,, using data input by the participants as to whom they know well and count as friends.

We see some important concerns, strong points and opportunities. We see some relatively isolated individuals, but also some potential around a group of neighbors and a social club.

We see several links to the local library, and a strong group brought together by volunteering.

Now suppose this is the picture 3 months later. We see a lot of changes, with strong groups bringing in previously isolated people, although some are still relatively isolated

It’s hard to go back to the drawing board and make changes. But is is better when you have information and ideas, and can see what you need to do next

Capacity research and resonance inc

Facilitated analytics, visual data and powerful presentations for planning,

evaluating and reporting

SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS

Impact you can see