Social and Information Network Analysis has emerged as a key concept in Organisation Studies, Information Science, and Computer Science, and is used extensively in a wide range of applications and disciplines, including countering money laundering and terrorism, supporting business intelligence needs, law enforcement activities and marketing, as well as developing leader engagement strategies, amongst others.
This module provides a general grounding in the theory and methods of network analysis. The module also develops and applies ideas of collecting, inputting, interpreting, and analysing network data. In addition, business management strategies to improve customer service and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations are also discussed and linked with the concept of network analysis. This module acts as a stand-alone module, bringing together material from a number of disciplines as well as introducing students to new concepts from the subject areas of data science, graph theory, and business process re-engineering.
The following topics will be covered:
- Network theory and analysis
- Knowledge Management in organisations
- Software applications to perform network analysis
- Collecting, inputting, interpreting and analysing network data
- Business process transformation strategies
- Consulting approaches to process improvement

The learning strategy requires the student to commit 150 learning hours (including assessment). Of this there will be 36 hours of class or workshop support and 114 hours of independent and self-directed study.
114 hours of student centred activities involving reading, group coursework preparation, laboratory work, and revision.
The tutor led sessions will tend to follow a general pattern of introduction of a topic and provision of models for student learning, followed by application to appropriate data or case study materials. Students will be expected to obtain supplementary information from a number of paper and/or electronic sources as part of their preparation. Students are also required to form themselves into groups, which will be encouraged to meet both physically and via internet message boards.
The module will also consist of a number of workshops (practical classes) which aim to familiarise the students with the use of network analysis and visualisation software.

Cross, R. L., Parker, A. (2004) The hidden power of social networks: understanding how work really gets done in organisations. Harvard Business School Press.
Davenport, T. H. (1993) Process innovation: reengineering work through information technology. Harvard Business School Press.
Hanneman, R. A., Riddle, M. (2005) Introduction to Social Network Analysis. Riverside, CA: University of California, Riverside [published in digital form http://faculty.ucr.edu/~hanneman/]

The University Library and Learning Resources - recommended texts and journal articles
The module VLE (Blackboard) and the Internet in general
Materials for delivering presentations
IT resources - Network Analysis software

1. An individual written report of 3000 words, at the end of the module, weighted at 75% (assesses learning outcomes 1 and 2)
2. A small-scale group project including network data collection, visualisation, analysis, and a 20 minute group presentation, at the end of the module, weighted at 25% (assesses learning outcomes 3 and 4).

Summative feedback: Students will be given written feedback on both their report and presentation.
Formative feedback: Developmental feedback will also be generated through teaching activities in class as well as dialogue and sharing of experiences between the students and the lecturer.