the role of social networks in collaborative networks
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Presented at Social Network/ing Research Symposium, University of Toronto, Nov 2&3, 2007 by Dimitrina Dimitrova, York University and Don Brookes, Canadian Water Network. Research team: D. Dimitrova, University of Toronto E. Koku, Drexel University B. Wellman, University of Toronto H. White, Drexel UniversityTRANSCRIPT
Social Network/ing ResearchSymposium, University of Toronto,
Nov 2&3, 2007Dimitrina Dimitrova, York University
Don Brookes, Canadian Water Network
One of over twenty Networks of Centres of Excellence
Started in 2001 Funded for a maximum of 14 years Purpose:
Foster innovation in water management and technology by funding and collaboration of research with the private and public sectors
CWN
CWN
Enviornment
Thinking Trap: “CWN’s Network”
Future Without CWN?
What’s in a name? Canadian Water Network A Knowledge Innovation Network A Network of Centres of Excellence Strategy: “Grow the network!”
The consequences of vagueness ….
Social Network Analysis and Setting Strategy for the Canadian Water Network
The house I wanted. The house I got.
Research teamD. Dimitrova, University of TorontoE. Koku, Drexel UniversityB. Wellman, University of TorontoH. White, Drexel University
Who works in the area? Who do they know? How do they work? What are their socio-demographic characteristics?
What are their networks? How do they use them? How do they create ties?
What is the network of researchers and practitioners in the area of water? What are the connections? Who are the important
people? Who collaborates with whom? Who cites whom? Is collaboration across sectors, multidisciplinary, and nation-wide?
How does institutional context affect collaboration? How do universities affect collaborative research?
What is the role of CWN?
Web-based network survey N=173 Recruitment: CWN, OWWA, workshops, word
of mouth Analyses: Centrality, Cliques, Bridges
Citation analysis N=31 Central CWN members
Semi-structured interviews N=64 Purposive sample QSR NVivo
Review of documents Research proposals, internal reports, records
Using Networks Who are the people in the area of water? Who do they know? How do they use their ties to start projects? Are there ties to support partnerships
across sectors?
Building Networks How are cross-sectoral and multi-
disciplinary ties created?
Mature experienced professionals Mean age 48 years; mean work experience 15
yearsDiverse in terms of sector and discipline
Over 3 dozens disciplinesSenior positions
53% full professors; 44% senior managers
Established networks Known network members
for 8 years on the average Work ties
More federal staff and academics work with the majority of network members
Who Works in the Area of Water?
Academics mobilize personal networks in team selection ““I don’t … work with people I don’t like (Principal I don’t … work with people I don’t like (Principal
Investigator).” Investigator).”
Practitioners join projects with people they know “ …“ …industry never knows when they enter into industry never knows when they enter into
an agreement with a researcher, whether an agreement with a researcher, whether they’re going to find something bad and run out they’re going to find something bad and run out to the newspapers … (Academic, former to the newspapers … (Academic, former government employee)”government employee)”
Typical team: long-term collaborators and some newcomers referred by them
Increase commitment ““I don’t know that we’ve had difficulties, simply I don’t know that we’ve had difficulties, simply
because you pick your people at the beginning … because you pick your people at the beginning … people you can trust, people who have a track record people you can trust, people who have a track record of doing stuff, and on whom you can rely and things of doing stuff, and on whom you can rely and things unfold smoothly (Principal Investigator).”unfold smoothly (Principal Investigator).”
Facilitate communication ““We always wanted to know that it had been received We always wanted to know that it had been received
by them, because if it hadn’t …. it’s too late – you’ve by them, because if it hadn’t …. it’s too late – you’ve lost the sample. I don’t think they appreciated the lost the sample. I don’t think they appreciated the importance of it (Principal Investigator).”importance of it (Principal Investigator).”
Decreases communication and cooperation problems
Ties across sectors Federal staff most outward oriented: 81%
cross-sectoral ties Academics most inward oriented: 47% cross-
sectoral ties Most common cross-sectoral tie is between
academics and federal staff
Cross-sectoral collaboration A dozen work cliques Over half of the cliques are cross-sectoral Out of the cross-sectoral cliques, most include
academics and federal staff
SECTOR OF RESPONDENT
AcademicFederalGovernment
ProvincialGovernment
Local Government
Industry NGO Others Total
SECTOR OF TIE
Academic53% (424) 26% (47) 14% (27) 10% (32) 18% (42) 11% (14) 18% (7) 593
Federal Government14% (113) 19% (34) 10% (19) 4% (12) 5% (13) 4% (5) 3% (1) 197
Provincial Government9% (75) 16% (29) 38% (72) 11% (36) 13% (32) 10% (12) 16% (6) 262
Local Government6% (46) 10% (18) 14% (27) 42% (132) 26% (61) 13% (16) 16% (6) 306
Industry10% (76) 8% (15) 16% (30) 17% (52) 31% (73) 18% (22) 5% (2) 270
NGO6% (49) 5% (9) 3% (6) 6% (19) 3% (8) 22% (27) 29% (11) 129
Others1% (11) 15% (27) 4% (7) 10% (30) 3% (8) 22% (27) 13% (5) 115
N 100% (794)100% (179)
100% (188)
100% (313)
100% (237)
100% (123)100% (38)
1872
Sector of Respondents (Columns) by Sector of their Ties (Rows)
N = 1904
Clique: 164, 128, 146
Ties grow “naturally” Normal course of professional life: studies,
workplace, community work, events Few opportunities for developing cross-sectoral
and multidisciplinary ties Universities do little to encourage such ties
CWN role Provides community for those interested in
multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration ““With Canadian Water Network, one of the things that With Canadian Water Network, one of the things that
I’ve been trying to do … is to find my academic clan“ I’ve been trying to do … is to find my academic clan“ (Multidisciplinary researcher) (Multidisciplinary researcher)
Some CWN meetings creates such ties
Accept the researcher institutional and project management environment as given
A self-sustaining network is not probable Need the structure a CWN provides Money is still the honey, but where it comes
from makes a difference Balance density and openness
Avoid growth for growth's sake Trusted inter-sectoral connections are key Attract new connections around contributing
to solutions
Use a new strategy for funding to animate network User driven, consortia funding
Develop inter and intra provincial, municipal and industrial ties Locus of implementation and greatest potential
Change emphasis of researcher networking meetings Smaller problem centered researcher/user workshops
Combine strategies for knowledge, innovation support and interpersonal connections Knowledge management and social capital are two
sides of the innovation coin
Continue web-based survey Monitor development and effects of
actionsDevelop internet social networking tools
and support Social networking specific to innovation
Develop knowledge base tools Make knowledge more accessible to
usersExplore how we might encourage
development of brokers Are brokers or can they be developed?