Knowledge Networking Tracking the Health of the Network.

Knowledge Networking

Tracking the Health of the Network

ENRAP Knowledge Network Study 2

Topics to Cover

Networking• Benefits of networks• How we analyze networks• Who uses network analysis?

The IFAD network in APR What we have learned Looking at the maps


Networking is what you do all the time

Meet and connect with people Draw on your connections to help in your

work


Why is Networking Important?

Bring skills and knowledge to bear on problems in your countries• Find others who have already solved similar

problem• Make your own work more effective

Share what you have learned with others• Make their work more effective


The virtuous cycle

You apply what you know and

learn from doing

You find out who else can

use this knowledge

You share with that person

That person learns more

That person shares back

with you

ENRAP Knowledge Network Study

Definitions

Social network analysis (SNA): An analysis of relationships / flows / influence between people, groups, or organizations

Organizational network analysis (ONA): A targeted approach to improving collaboration and network connectivity where they yield greatest benefits for an organization or network. (SNA applied to an organisation)


Who is Network Analysis used?

Some examples

To track disease spread For organisational development For managing networks …many others


Disease Spread

Disease spread: smoking and quitting in groups


Organisational Development

Improving collaboration• Finding gaps• Making connections

Finding key people


Managing Networks

Managing networks effectively

Improve performance


NGOs

A network of international donors supporting various NGOs within a particular country

A network of community organisations (formal and informal, modern and traditional) linked by overlapping membership, or by authority relationships.

A network of enterprises, lined by their commercial relationships, forming supply chains and networks within a specific industry.

A network of donors and NGOs linked by common policy concerns, such as specific objectives within a national poverty reduction strategy

A network of events, such as workshops, linked by overlapping sets of participants

Source: Rick Davies, http://mande.co.uk/special-issues/network-models/

http://mande.co.uk/special-issues/network-models/

Tracking the IFAD Network in Asia Pacific

What we learned from the mapping exercises


Where we started

Rome

Pakistan

Maldives

Cambodia

Vietnam

Mongolia

ChinaAfghanistan

IndiaBangladesh

Indonesia

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Fiji

Kiribati

Lao PDR

NepalBhutan

Rome


A bit of History…..

Pre-2007 Tracking through m&e surveys; website

usage; email exchange

2007 plan for network exercise

2008 First regional network mapping

2009 Bangladesh Country Mapping

2010 Second Regional Mapping


Pakistan

Maldives

Where we have come

Cambodia

Vietnam

Mongolia

ChinaAfghanistan

India

Indonesia

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Fiji

Kiribati

Lao PDR

RomeRome

Bangladesh

NepalBhutan


Network Mapping I

Objectives: Baseline the current state of

connectedness Understand the extent to which the

programme directors were working within and across geographic and cultural boundaries

Understand how people communicate and attitudes toward networking


Network Mapping II

Objectives: Look at how the connectedness and

attitudes evolved over time Determine the nature of the interactions

that individual have with each other Provide insights for transition of

knowledge networking programme to IFAD


Specific questions

Are people sharing easily within and across country boundaries?

Do people know who might need to know what they are learning?

Who are the people who will help sustain the network over time?

What are people interacting about?


Participants: 2010 Sample*

Group Surveyed* Responded* Percentage

IFAD Country Teams 12 11 91%

CPMs 10 9 90%

CPOs 11 9 82%

IFAD HQ 5 5 80%

Project staff 52 37 70%

IDRC/ENRAP 4 3 75%

Network 8 5 63%

Totals 103 80 78%

Unlisted* 23

Total Responses 126

*2008 survey: 72 people surveyed; 49 responded (69%)


Network Structure

I know this person and have at least some interaction with them.


Network structure Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Cambodia

China

Fiji

IDRC

IFAD

India

Indonesia

Kiribati

Lao PDR

Maldives

Mongolia

Nepal

Pakistan

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Vietnam

Tonga

CPMs


Network Structure

The network shows the core/periphery structure.


Network Structure (no HQ)



Same Participants in Both Surveys

24

2008 2010

“I interact with this person at least once every other week.”

Density = 7.9% Density = 8.8%


Country Networks: Project Staff


Country Maps


Bangladesh

26

Cambodia


Country Maps


China India

27


Country Maps


Nepal Pakistan

28


Country Maps


Philippines

29

Sri Lanka


Country Maps


Vietnam

30


One Country: Bangladesh

I interact with this person at least once a month on operational topics.


The nature of interactions

In 2010, we sought to understand how people interacted with respect to their areas of expertise

And, if the focus of interactions was:• Within their own area of expertise• On cross-cutting topics• On administrative topics• On areas outside of their own area of

expertise


Interactions: Agricultural Expertise

I know this person and have had some interaction

I interact with this person at least every 2-3 months


Thematic Groups


Knowledge Management Gender Issues


Primary Focus of Conversation

In my own area of expertise

Cross-cutting topics

Administrative matters

Topics outside of my own area of expertise

Agriculture 45% 27% 9% 18%Project Management 21% 39% 27% 13%Rural finance 38% 50% 0% 13%Gender 29% 54% 7% 11%M&E 34% 50% 11% 5%Government liaison 18% 56% 12% 15%KM 19% 48% 24% 9%

Overall 31% 46% 24% 12%


Attitudes Toward Sharing

I can easily find the information that I need to do my job without needing to contact or share

knowledge with colleagues in other IFAD country programmes.

I feel comfortable asking help from IFAD project teams in other countries when I need help.

Working across country boundaries has helped me to do my work more effectively.

I am encouraged to use the network to share knowledge.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7


Barriers to Sharing

Often is a problem

Keeps me from any

communication with others

Not a problem in general

No way to find out who has the experience I seek

42.9% 9.2% 48.0%

It takes too much time 38.4% 5.1% 56.6%No easy way to communicate or interact

21.6% 10.3% 68.0%

No language in common 20.2% 5.1% 74.7%Time zone differences 23.2% 1.0% 75.8%No access to resources (telephone, computer, etc.)

10.3% 3.1% 86.6%

We are doing well here.


What Can We Improve?

Often is a problem

Keeps me from any

communication with others

Not a problem in general

No way to find out who has the experience I seek

42.9% 9.2% 48.0%

It takes too much time 38.4% 5.1% 56.6%No easy way to communicate or interact

21.6% 10.3% 68.0%

No language in common 20.2% 5.1% 74.7%Time zone differences 23.2% 1.0% 75.8%No access to resources (telephone, computer, etc.)

10.3% 3.1% 86.6%

Still need: how to find the right person?


Learning from network mapping

CPMs are at the centre of the national networks and recognise the value of networking for information exchange

Strong common interest help establish networking groups

Facilitation and mechanisms to share lead to dynamic networks

Network has been growing and members see it as an important resource


Learning from network mapping

Emails and mobile phones are most popular means of communication

Great need to learn from others’ experiences to improve performance

Key connectors in the network help knowledge move faster and in variety of directions

Interaction between people are needs based


Who would you like to know?


Your Network

A mapping exercise for you to visualise map out your relationships

Then share your network maps with others (discussion)

Fedback-what did you find interesting?


Thank You

Knowledge Networking Tracking the Health of the Network.

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