8/9/2019 The Development of a Social Network, its Interpretation and Significance ICKM 2007

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

The Development of a Social Network, its

Interpretation and SignificanceA longitudinal Study Using Social Network Analysis Conducted within thePostgraduate Programs onKnowledge Management and Strategic Information Management

(research in progress)

Richard Pircher, Lukas Zenk and Hanna Risku

Danube University Krems

8/9/2019 The Development of a Social Network, its Interpretation and Significance ICKM 2007

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Overview

Objectives

Social Network Analysis (SNA)

Methodology

Exemplary results and visualization

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

ObjectivesGeneral objective:

to analyze the social networks within twoyear vocational master programs forprofessionals with an emphasis on

aspects like transparency and availabilityof knowledge and competencies, etc.

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Objectives

Educational objectives: The project permits students to learn about SNA

and its use for knowledge and information

management actively Reflect the group experience and social processes

individually and collectively (self-perception vs.

peer-perception) Educational models and interventions can be

observed with regard to their impact on social

networks Test SNA as an intervention in a social system

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

ObjectivesResearch objectives: need for longitudinal studies has been

repeatedly emphasized in literature becausethey are instrumental in understanding thedevelopment and character of social

networks; moreover it could be possible tocompare data from different master programs

because of the investigative character of thisproject it is expected to build the basis forfurther research

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Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Formal vs. informal networks (Cross/Parker 2004)

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

„Power“/impact as an attribute of

social structures „Ego‘s power is alter‘s dependent“ (Hanneman, 2005)

The own power depends on the others

▪ „power“/impact is relative

▪ Which position has got the most power?

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Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

„Power“/impact as an attribute of

social structures▪ „degree“: number of possibilities / ressources

▪ „closeness“ (information influence):

the closer to others the more influence▪ „betweenness“ (information control):

who is situated between others?

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Methodology

Students are asked to answer questions byfilling in a matrices after each of the educationmodules

In the following modules the results (includingchanges of the networks) are presented to thestudents

At the end of the program the data is subject tointerpretation and

is expected to build the foundation for the design

of a successive project

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Exemplary questions

„Who did I ask a question since the last module?“ „Who did I have contact with since the last module?“

„Who I would like to have contact with more often?“

„About who do I know which knowledge andcomptencies she/he has got?“

„Who has got contacts which could be valuable to

me?“

„With who I would like to exchange professional

experiences more often?“

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

„Who did I ask a question since the last

module?“ (Result)

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

„With who I would like to exchange

professional experiences more often?“(Period 1)

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

„With who I would like to exchange professional

experiences more often?“ (Period 2)

Period 2Period 1

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Question:

„About who do I know which knowledgeand comptencies she/he has got?“

Knowledge-InDegree:

▪Who has been choosen how often?

▪The bigger the circle the more often

Knowledge-OutDegree:▪Who has choosen how many others?

▪The bigger the circle the more have been

choosen.

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Summary

The potential use and impact of SNA as an

intervention in vocational education is tested The longitudinal project is expected to deliver

data valuable for research on social network and

should build the basis for further research

SNA is investigated as a tool for networked

education

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Danube University Krems

Department for Knowledge and Communication Managementwww.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/ richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.at

Thank you very much for your Attention!

Questions?

Dr. Richard Pircher

Head of Center for Knowledge and Information Management

Danube University Krems

Tel: +43(0)2732-893-2332

E-Mail: richard.pircher@donau-uni.ac.atWWW: http://www.donau-uni.ac.at/wuk/