Social Network Analysis Survey; DD: 5/16/08

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240

May 1, 2008

In Reply Refer To:
6100 (170) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 05/02/2008
Information Bulletin No. 2008-074

To: All State Directors
Attn: NLCS National Monument and National Conservation Managers,
NLCS State Office Leads and WO-171 NLCS Staff

From: Director, National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) and
Community Partnerships

Subject: Social Network Analysis Survey DD: 5/16/08

At the June meeting for NLCS field managers in Phoenix, there will be a session on social network analysis, a tool to build stronger internal and external networks. Social network analysis focuses on relationships among members, and can be an important tool for public and nonprofit leaders to assist in their efforts to build capacity by building stronger networks. The analysis will assess the direction information flows, whether certain individuals are loosely connected and under-utilized, the existence of influential subgroups, and the level of connectivity among network members. The session will include an actual analysis of the current social network that exists among NLCS managers. (For more information on social network analysis, see the attached article.)

To demonstrate the use of this tool, Dr. Debra Whitall, social scientist, U.S. Forest Service National Partnership Office, has designed a simple questionnaire for NLCS team members to identify their network relationships within the NLCS. The questionnaire takes approximately five minutes to complete and is located online at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=7Th4xPuz3CFuRoKl4sCokA_3d_3d.

Please carefully follow the brief instructions at the website. Your responses are confidential. NLCS team member names will be replaced by a random number assigned to each individual. The survey is now open and you must complete it by May 16th. Dr. Whitall will prepare a network analysis based on your responses.

Signed by: Authenticated by:
Mary Tisdale Robert M. Williams
Acting, Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560 National Landscape Conservation System
1 - Attachment

1 - Social Network Analysis Article (12 pp)