Understanding Social Network Structures and Dynamics

Social Network Structures

Matrices of Social Organization

Community Structures

Community: Provides property security, stability, permanence, identity, and history, delivering more solid structures of meaning to people. It is composed of homogenous, traditional elements that resist change.

Institutional Structures

Institutional: A workspace with more structured, hierarchical, and instrumental relations aimed at collecting specific purposes. A more important role is assigned to the personality of this structure, governed by the logic of efficiency, effectiveness optimization, and rationalization.

Reticular Structures

Reticular: An open, mobile, flexible, and heterogeneous system with less stability; it is instrumentally functional.

Network Components and Exchange

The Social Network (RED)

A system of links between nodes oriented socially. Components support exchange:

• NODES: Connecting entities (people, groups, or organizations).
• LINK: The relationship or report established between nodes.
• SYSTEM LINKS: The set of links between nodes.

Social Network Concepts

EXCHANGE: A relationship between nodes occurs through some form of exchange (affective, emotional, economical, material, etc.).

SOCIAL SUPPORT: The result of social support exchange occurring for the nodes.

CONTOUR: The limit that differentiates groups within the network.

Network Formats

Social Network Focal

A system of conversation or action structured around a subject focus (intervention network).

Social Network Open

Not structured around a subject focus. Conversation is flexible, broader, and more multidimensional, often involving joint action between organizations (intervention practice network).

Systems as Self-Organized Entities

Networks can be self-organized, possessing an autonomous identity.

Network System as Conversation

This describes a way of producing systems or organizations through conversation.

Types of Conversation

Conversation for Action

Establishing agreements to generate an action, which may occur implicitly or explicitly.

Conversation to Create Opportunities

Conversations that open possibilities for action but do not lead to a commitment to concrete action.

Variables in Group Formation

Perception of Members

Awareness must exist regarding the links between members.

Motivation

Motivation always responds to the needs of the individual.

Common Goals

Even if members have different motivations for joining, they share common goals.

Organization

A fairly stable order of links.

Interdependence

The feeling of whether or not one is part of the group.

Interaction

The action of one member is linked to the action of another.