scholarly journals Information exchange in construction design phase: a case study using Social Network Analysis

Author(s):  
Bao Ngoc Nguyen

Effective information exchange contributes greatly to the success of a project. However, so far when mentioning this topic, people have still been uncertain and confused about its advantages. A uniform method to visualise this theme should be established so that existing problems can be exposed and hence remedies will be suggested towards the transformation of nature and structure of information exchange. This paper applies Social Network Analysis techniques to study information exchange practices in design consulting projects through a case study. On that basis, the present study assesses the cohesiveness of the network, measuring the role and position of actors. Overall, the cohesion in the overall network structure was average, the collaboration was not extensive. There were still some actors on the edge of the network with weak links. The key player in the network was surprisingly the Coordinator. The information path was fairly long and there was a risk of being distorted when passing through transit nodes. The findings of this research have considerable managerial implications. The prospect of being able to do SNA serves as a continuous impulse for future research in the field of construction management and project management in Vietnam.

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iraj Mohammadfam ◽  
Susan Bastani ◽  
Mahbobeh Esaghi ◽  
Rostam Golmohamadi ◽  
Ali Saee

Author(s):  
Eun-Joo Kim ◽  
Ji-Young Lim ◽  
Geun-Myun Kim ◽  
Seong-Kwang Kim

Improving nursing students’ subjective happiness is germane for efficiency in the nursing profession. This study examined the subjective happiness of nursing students by applying social network analysis (SNA) and developing a strategy to improve the subjective happiness of nursing. The study adopted a cross sectional survey to measure subjective happiness and social network of 222 nursing students. The results revealed that the centralization index, which is a measure of intragroup interactions from the perspective of an entire network, was higher in the senior year compared with the junior year. Additionally, the indegree, outdegree, and centrality of the social network of students with a high level of subjective happiness were all found to be high. This result suggests that subjective happiness is not just an individual’s psychological perception, but can also be expressed more deeply depending on the subject’s social relationships. Based on the study’s results, to strengthen self-efficacy and resilience, it is necessary to utilize strategies that activate group dynamics, such as team activities, to improve subjective happiness. The findings can serve as basic data for future research focused on improving nursing students’ subjective happiness by consolidating team-learning social networks through a standardized program approach within a curriculum or extracurricular programs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annelies van der Ham ◽  
Frits Van Merode ◽  
Dirk Ruwaard ◽  
Arno Van Raak

Abstract Background Integration, the coordination and alignment of tasks, has been promoted widely in order to improve the performance of hospitals. Both organization theory and social network analysis offer perspectives on integration. This exploratory study research aims to understand how a hospital’s logistical system works, and in particular to what extent there is integration and differentiation. More specifically, it first describes how a hospital organizes logistical processes; second, it identifies the agents and the interactions for organizing logistical processes, and, third, it establishes the extent to which tasks are segmented into subsystems, which is referred to as differentiation, and whether these tasks are coordinated and aligned, thus achieving integration.Methods The study is based on case study research carried out in a hospital in the Netherlands. All logistical tasks that are executed for surgery patients were studied. Using a mixed method, data were collected from the Hospital Information System (HIS), documentation, observations and interviews. These data were used to perform a social network analysis and calculate the network metrics of the hospital network.Results This paper shows that 23 tasks are executed by 635 different agents who interact through 31,499 interaction links. The social network of the hospital demonstrates both integration and differentiation. The network appears to function differently from what is assumed in literature, as the network does not reflect the formal organizational structure of the hospital, and tasks are mainly executed across functional silos. Nurses and physicians perform integrative tasks and two agents who mainly coordinate the tasks in the network, have no hierarchical position towards other agents. The HIS does not seem to fulfill the interactional needs of agents. Conclusions This exploratory study reveals the network structure of a hospital. The cross-functional collaboration, the integration found, and position of managers, coordinators, nurses and doctors suggests a possible gap between organizational perspectives on hospitals and reality. This research sets a basis for further research that should focus on the relation between network structure and performance, on how integration is achieved and in what way organization theory concepts and social network analysis could be used in conjunction with one another.


Author(s):  
Mohana Shanmugam ◽  
Yusmadi Yah Jusoh ◽  
Rozi Nor Haizan Nor ◽  
Marzanah A. Jabar

The social network surge has become a mainstream subject of academic study in a myriad of disciplines. This chapter posits the social network literature by highlighting the terminologies of social networks and details the types of tools and methodologies used in prior studies. The list is supplemented by identifying the research gaps for future research of interest to both academics and practitioners. Additionally, the case of Facebook is used to study the elements of a social network analysis. This chapter also highlights past validated models with regards to social networks which are deemed significant for online social network studies. Furthermore, this chapter seeks to enlighten our knowledge on social network analysis and tap into the social network capabilities.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xaver Neumeyer ◽  
Kathleen Foote ◽  
Robert Beichner ◽  
Melissa Dancy ◽  
Charles Henderson

Author(s):  
Felix Przesdzink ◽  
Laura Mae Herzog ◽  
Florian Fiebelkorn

AbstractMany nature conservation projects fail primarily not because of a lack of knowledge about upcoming threats or viable conservation concepts but rather because of the inability to transfer knowledge into the creation of effective measures. Therefore, an increase in information exchange and collaboration between theory- and practice-oriented conservation actors, as well as between conservation actors, land user groups, and authorities may enhance the effectiveness of conservation goals. By considering the interactions between conservation stakeholders as social networks, social network analysis (SNA) can help identify structural optimization potential in these networks. The present study combines SNA and stakeholder analysis (SA) to assess the interactions between 34 conservation stakeholders in the major city and district of Osnabrück in northwestern Germany and offers insights into cost/benefit optimizations of these stakeholder interactions. Data were acquired using a pile sort technique and guideline-based expert interviews. The SA, based on knowledge mapping and SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, identified individual stakeholder’s complementary properties, indicating which among them would most benefit from mutual information exchange and collaboration. The SNA revealed discrepancies in information exchange and collaboration between theory- and practice-focused stakeholders. Conflicts were found predominantly between conservation associations, authorities and land user groups. Ecological research, funding, land-use conflicts, and distribution of conservation knowledge were identified as fields with high potential for increased information exchange and collaboration. Interviews also showed that the stakeholders themselves see many opportunities for increased networking in the region. The results are discussed in relation to the existing literature on nature conservation networks and used to recommend optimization measures for the studied network. Finally, the conclusion reflects upon the developed approach’s implications and possibilities for conservation stakeholders and planners in general.


2021 ◽  
pp. 345-366
Author(s):  
Magy Seif El-Nasr ◽  
Truong Huy Nguyen Dinh ◽  
Alessandro Canossa ◽  
Anders Drachen

This chapter discusses Social Network Analysis, a technique used to analyze social networks within social games as a method to enhance retention in games. We will show how one can use this method by applying it to the problem of retention within the game Tom Clancy’s The Division (TCTD). Using the game and the analysis will help you understand how to use SNA to understand types of players and influential players, and, as a result, understand how to engage different players, especially influencers, to increase retention. While the chapter will focus on the use of SNA for TCTD as a case study, the methods discussed under SNA can be applied to other types of games. Please note that this chapter is an extension of the work done by several collaborators to the authors, including Casper Harteveld (professor, Northeastern University), Sebastian Deterding (professor, York University), and Ahmad Azadvar (User Research Lead at Ubisoft Massive), and the work was accomplished with the support of Ubisoft, the Games Lab, and the Live Ops team at Massive Entertainment.


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