The Purpose of the KM4Dev SNA

First let me thank Pete Cranston for posting my introduction to this group. In that post I said I was pleased to have the opportunity to conduct the social network analysis (SNA) of KM4Dev. A question was posed as to what the goals and objectives of the study are, and how they might be used. Here’s the answer.

• The purpose of the study is threefold, as follows:
  first, to better understand KM4Dev in terms of issues such as identity, relationships, function and role;
• second, to better understand the relationship of SIWA and SA-Ge to each other and the main KM4Dev community; and
• third, to better understand where KM4Dev sits in comparison with other networks to help KM4Dev appreciate where they are unique, where they are in terms of a traditional life-cycle, and how they might evolve.

I expect the outcomes and results of the study will result in recommendations for practical methods to support the growth and enrichment of the KM4Dev community. So how will I go about it? Essentially there are three phases to the study.

In Phase One I will analyse the Discussion Group, and the SA-GE and SIWA communities that are linked to the main group, using data supplied by KM4Dev. In particular I will be looking for the central connecters, knowledge brokers, and boundary spanners of each group. I will use a number of tools including:

• Microsoft Excel 2010,
• NodeXL,
• NetMiner 4,
• UCINET/NetDraw,
• Sentinel Visualizer, and
• HyperEdge’s own proprietary tool.

Why so many tools? In my experience each tool has separate capabilities, and no single tool can do everything I want it to do, although NetMiner 4 comes close, and NodeXL gets better with every release.

Phase Two involves an online survey and social network of the central connecters, knowledge brokers, and boundary spanners identified in Phase 1, together with some “lurkers” and low activity members. Depending on the numbers and the type of questions to be asked, the survey tool to be used will be either HyperEdge’s own proprietary tool, or Optimice’s ONA Surveys.

Phase Three is the reporting Phase, and obviously cannot commence until Phases One and Two are complete. I plan to provide a Microsoft Word document, several Microsoft PowerPoint reports, and most of the data in a Microsoft Excel format.

In my next post I will provide some details of the steps involved in Phase One and some early results. I look forward to actively engaging with you.

Regards Graham