Network Mapping for Everyone Practical ways to use network maps in your community +

Understand why you might use network mapping Get comfortable with the process for gathering data about relationships using surveys Learn how to transform survey data to easily import it into Kumu Analyze a network and demystify some of the SNA jargon Explore ways to engage and empower your community with a network map Objectives for today

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Which are you?

“A network weaver is someone who is aware of the networks around them and explicitly works to make them healthier (more inclusive, bridging divides). Network weavers do this by connecting people strategically where there’s potential for mutual benefit, helping people identify their passions, and serving as a catalyst for self-organizing groups.” ~ June Holley

Part 1 - Why network mapping

Three buckets to consider Exploring Empowering Evaluating Understanding a new environment or landscape Discovering who the key influencers are in a space General sense-making Determining if and how a network has changed over time Proving the impact of a given intervention or strategy Enabling anyone to improve the health of the network As a resource for self- organizing around shared interests/strategies

Find a partner at your table and spend 2 minutes each sharing how you’ve either used or considered using network mapping. Your turn

Part 2 - Gathering relationship data

There are many ways to ask questions about relationships

Who did you grab coffee with outside of work in the last 6 weeks? Who do you go to as a great source of information or help? Who have you collaborated with in the last 6 months? Asking for a list of names

0: Not in my network; I do not know this person 1: On my radar; I know of this person, but rarely communicate or cross paths with them 2: In my peripheral network; I keep in touch with this person and/or occasionally work, socialize or collaborate with them 3: In my core network; I know this person well and/or frequently work, collaborate or socialize with them Using defined relationship strengths

Layering multiple types

What do you think is most likely to make a difference for (insert issue or problem) AND that you would like to work on? How willing are you to help convene a group working on this? Key strategies and self-organizing

List up to 5 other leaders with whom you have a personal or professional relationship. Who do you know who would be a valuable connection for the network? Uncovering the periphery

What information is relevant to collect about the people in your network? Some examples: - Bio - Location - Skills and interests - Age - Ethnicity - Organization Don’t forget demographics!

Find a partner at your table and spend 5 minutes discussing what relationship and demographic questions feel most valuable for your network, community, or organization. Your turn

…and just as many platforms to help you collect that information

Traditional survey tools – SurveyMonkey, SurveyGizmo, Google Forms Network-specific survey tools – SumApp, Undercurrent Spreadsheet-based – Excel, Google Sheets Pen and paper – It’s possible (but a pain to input)

An example using SurveyGizmo https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4719445/Sample-SNA-Survey

Part 3 - Transforming relationship data

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https://alexvipond.github.io/matrix-expander/

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Part 4 - Analyzing a network

4 ways to think about analysis Squinting Zooming out and blurring the details to focus on overall structure Calculating Using SNA metrics to uncover insights that are difficult to see otherwise Spotting Zooming in and looking for interesting people, structures and connections Comparing Looking at changes over time as well as overlaying important demographics

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Analyzing a network in Kumu

Part 5 - Engaging your community

What do you notice? What surprises you? What story does the overall structure tell about our network? Who seems to be at the center of the network? The edges? Do the network insights make sense? Why or why not? How has our network changed over time? What might we do to strengthen connections? To increase diversity? Questions to explore