More than ever, we need to learn how to harness the power of networks to tackle the complex issues we're facing as a society. Here's a quick guide to the basics of social network analysis.
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4. reason #1
The challenges we face are so complex
they can’t be solved by any one
organization.
5. The urgency and scale of social
problems, coupled with the limited
results to date, cry out for
new approaches.
- Jane Wei-Skillern, Nora Silver and Eric Heitz “Cracking the Network Code”
7. Organizations have been the lever
through which we try to create social
change for far too long.
!
We have to bring people together across
sectors, from within and outside
government, and from all walks of life.
8. Reason #2
Even within organizations, hierarchies
aren’t accurate representations of how
work actually gets done.
9. Reason #2
Even within organizations, hierarchies
aren’t accurate representations of how
work actually gets done.
org charts lie!
10. Information doesn’t flow along
organizational hierarchies.
!
Networks are a far more accurate picture
of how work gets done.
org charts lie!
11. Reason #3
We must understand the
status quo to overcome it.
12. The status quo is a result of the web of
relationships and incentives among
stakeholders (including us).
!
It’s not that we’re “stuck” — it’s that
competing interests provide a balancing
effect that resists change.
22. Data can be collected via survey, pulled
from existing data sources or populated
via personal knowledge.
surveys Data Knowledge
Pull from spreadsheets,
CRMs, public data, email
traffic, social networks and
more
Surveys ask participants
both relational and
demographic questions
Use the wisdom in the room
to identify stakeholders and
key relationships
23. Examples of Relational
Survey Questions
•Who do you work with?
•Who do you turn to for new ideas?
•Who do you turn to for advice?
•How does working with this person affect your
energy levels?
24. Examples of DEMOGRAPHIC
Survey Questions
•What is your age?
•What sector do you work in?
•What is your job title?
•How many years experience do you have?
30. Metrics provide an unbiased way to interpret relationships.
You’ve got a few to choose from…
degree INdegree OUTdegree ties pairs CLOSENESS
farness reach betweenness eigenvector katz
pagerank percolation cross-clique
31. Metrics provide an unbiased way to interpret relationships.
You’ve got a few to choose from… but we’ll focus on these
three for now.
degree INdegree OUTdegree ties pairs CLOSENESS
farness reach betweenness eigenvector katz
pagerank percolation cross-clique
37. Closeness
Identifies those with high visibility about
what’s happening across the network
by measuring the distance from one
element to all other elements
38. Closeness WARNING
These people can quickly spread
information (good or bad)
across the network
40. Betweenness
Identifies key bridges and those who
control the flow of information
by counting the number of times an
element lies on the shortest path
between two other elements
54. This guy was obsessed
with pretty pictures.
!
You’re better than that.
55. go beyond the pretty
picture and get shit done.
Use strong visualizations, compelling
narrative, and convincing arguments
to make your impact.
56. shameless plug
Kumu helps you do all three
Use strong visualizations, compelling
narrative, and convincing arguments
to make your impact.
57. a few caveats to
Network Analysis
• be data-informed, not data-driven
• take results with a grain of salt
• validate using common sense
58. let’s recap
1. SNA helps tackle complex social problems.
2. Use surveys, data, and local knowledge to build the network.
3. Calculate metrics to identify key players within the network.
4. Apply what you’ve learned to make a difference.
5. Don’t forget to use common sense!
59. If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.
- African Proverb
61. Thanks!
Jeff Mohr is the cofounder & CEO of Kumu, a web-based platform that
gives influencers the tools to track, visualize and leverage relationships
to overcome their toughest obstacles.
!
Learn more at kumu.io or say hi @kumupowered