Social networks analysis: A study on the linkage of relations and the hierarchy in the public sector

Abstract

The study used Social Network Analysis (SNA) to map interactions among public servants at the City Council of Sant'Ana do Livramento. A quantitative approach was employed, collecting data via questionnaires from 133 public servants, with 108 valid responses. The data were processed using Gephi 0.9.1 software to construct networks of information, friendship, and trust. Three networks were mapped: information exchange, friendship, and trust. The analysis used metrics such as degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, and eigenvector centrality. The information exchange network included 143 public servants with 1235 connections and a density of 6.1%. Key nodes, such as Councilor Ulberto Navarro, showed high capacity for information exchange and highlighted the importance of certain public servants in coordinating and controlling information within the network. SNA is valuable for understanding social dynamics in a public organization. Identifying informal leaders and analyzing networks of friendship, information, and trust provide crucial insights for enhancing communication and collaboration within the institution.