Description

The basic SNA module is an analysis tool that will map and analyze how nodes and users are interlinked. It is useful for knowledge management in organizations because it provides an insight on what nodes have greatest value and which users are frequently tapped by other users for knowledge. Since node analysis (eg most popular nodes) is already existent in other modules, we will focus here on an analysis of user networks.

In particular, the SNA module can be used to start an audit of an organization's social network/s. This may start by a "manager" posting an online questionnaire that asks users to identify people they work with, and to rank these people according valuability of knowledge they possess.

The module will then generate a network map showing how each member is connected, with scores per node. The map will show who have the most knowledge.

More information can be read from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking and http://www.destinationkm.com/articles/default.asp?ArticleID=1041

Motivation

Drupal can become a full-featured knowledge management support tool. An SNA module will help boost this position further and provide more motivation for organizations and enterprises to use Drupal .

Success Criteria

The SNA module will be considered successful if:

  1. It facilitates social network mapping.
  2. It performs basic network analysis similar to what these tools deliver: http://www.insna.org/INSNA/soft_inf.html
  3. It also aggregates additional data like: who is the most valuable contributor, what are the most popular nodes (this already exists), etc

Roadmap

  1. Install, use and understand how Drupal works.
  2. Read about KM and SNA (see links above)
  3. Conduct a test social network mapping and analysis

Comments on this proposal

Great!
rubyji - May 24, 2006 - 10:04

We would very much support this at Netcentric Campaigns! We are a nonprofit working to help progressive organizations, coalitions, and campaigns to use the Internet to empower supporters through network-centric advocacy. We are currently using SNA to diagnose networks and drupal (CivicSpace) as a community-building tool, so this would be incredibly helpful for us, especially if integrated with CiviCRM!

I would be happy to assist this effort as a power user, tester, interface designer, use case author, etc.
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Project home
Aron Novak - June 5, 2006 - 10:57

Here you can track the process of the SNA development: sna.drupaler.net/.
I would like to ask everybody to visit the site and commenting and so on. :)
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KM-modded Drupal
simon.dueckert - June 6, 2006 - 15:59

Great idea! The German Knowledge Management Society (Gesellschaft fuer Wissensmanagement (GfWM), http://www.gfwm.de) uses Drupal as KM-Tool. Contact me if you need any information/help.

looking forward for that module!

best regards
simon
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