Use Of Network Analysis Research Articles

How to execute mindful marketing? The role of intrafirm network

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an empirical linkage of intrafirm network characteristics to individual-level mindful marketing (MM). Design/methodology/approach – Based on current literature in network, market orientation and MM research, this paper presents one conceptual model to capture enablers of MM execution with a network approach. The authors identified a pair of antecedent/barrier to MM execution: individual employees’ shared cross-functional tie and firm-level segmentation of the network. Findings – The paper shows that to execute MM, employees possessing more cross-functional ties are more likely to develop higher level of MM. Meanwhile, it was also found that firm-level segmentation of intrafirm network will negatively affect employees in executing MM. Research limitations/implications – The paper shows that to execute MM, employees possessing more cross-functional ties are more likely to develop higher level of MM. Meanwhile, it was also found that firm-level segmentation of intrafirm network will negatively affect employees in executing MM. Practical implications – The proposed empirical linkage shows that a manager shall intervene and help employees to build cross-functional ties in advice network among themselves. Thus, firms are able to effectively maintain mindfulness of people and profit and ensure optimal execution of MM strategy. Meanwhile, they should offset possible negative effects of the advice network due to segmentation at firm level, which provides useful customer information flow throughout the firm. Originality/value – The paper is one of the first attempts to advance and examine the role of intrafirm network in executing the concept of MM. Methodologically, this paper also explores the use of network analysis in discussion of an organizational structure that favors MM.

The use of network analysis to study complex animal communication systems: a study on nightingale song.

The singing of song birds can form complex signal systems comprised of numerous subunits sung with distinct combinatorial properties that have been described as syntax-like. This complexity has inspired inquiries into similarities of bird song to human language; but the quantitative analysis and description of song sequences is a challenging task. In this study, we analysed song sequences of common nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) by means of a network analysis. We translated long nocturnal song sequences into networks of song types with song transitions as connectors. As network measures, we calculated shortest path length and transitivity and identified the 'small-world' character of nightingale song networks. Besides comparing network measures with conventional measures of song complexity, we also found a correlation between network measures and age of birds. Furthermore, we determined the numbers of in-coming and out-going edges of each song type, characterizing transition patterns. These transition patterns were shared across males for certain song types. Playbacks with different transition patterns provided first evidence that these patterns are responded to differently and thus play a role in singing interactions. We discuss potential functions of the network properties of song sequences in the framework of vocal leadership. Network approaches provide biologically meaningful parameters to describe the song structure of species with extremely large repertoires and complex rules of song retrieval.

Calibration and Validation of Condition Indicator for Managing Urban Pavement Networks

Deterioration indexes that may combine types of surface distresses, serviceability, and structural indicators are commonly used for pavement management at the network level. These indexes differ in the types of deterioration and criteria considered to quantify severity and density of distresses. Most of these indexes were developed for interurban road networks; therefore, their application to urban networks is complex and not representative. For this reason, there is a need for a better understanding of urban pavement behavior to enable collection of the distresses relevant to these types of pavements and development of an overall condition index for urban pavements that represents the mix of the more relevant distresses for use in network analysis. This study is part of a 3-year project developed in Chile: Research and Development of Solutions for Urban Pavement Management in Chile. The main objective of this study was to calibrate and to validate an urban pavement condition index (UPCI) representative of the overall condition of these pavements, according to objective measures of surface distresses and evaluations of an expert panel. The scope of this study included the development of distress evaluation guidelines for asphalt and concrete pavements considering manual and automated surveys, the application of these guidelines in different types of urban networks, and the assessment of these networks by an expert panel. Finally, three UPCI equations were obtained with satisfactory validation for asphalt pavements with manual and automated data collection and for concrete pavements with manual data collection.

Scientific and technological knowledge flow and technological innovation: quantitative approach using patent citation

The relationship of science, technology, and industry are complicated and vary according to time; therefore, it is difficult to combine the three categories into a single model. However, the linking of science, technology, and industry (divided according to their respective classification standards) is an opportunity to understand how science and technology, technology and industry, and science, technology, and industry are interrelated. This article examines the methodology to link science, technology, and industry that proposes a concrete model to analyse science, technology, and industry in an integrated manner. This study formulates an empirical study of trend analysis for technological innovation through a linkage structure of the knowledge flow of science, technology, and industry based on classification linkage and an analytic framework that utilizes scientific papers and patents. This article uses citation analysis to analyse knowledge flow (such as absorption and the utilization of given knowledge) that looks at the provision of knowledge to create new knowledge as well as examines the use of network analysis to analyse the complicated phenomenon of knowledge flow.

New Pathways and Further Research

I have, in past, engaged in an exercise with my students where issues, concerns, and bodies of knowledge associated with education are identified through an analysis of articles published in Studies in Art Education. The list of research topics or points of concern always emerged as lengthy and complex. Not unaware of what is published in our field, this was not surprising and has only been reinforced during my time as Associate Editor and Senior Editor of Studies. Reading every manuscript submitted to journal in past 4 years has served only to magnify for me richness and depth of i nqu i ry associated with our field. Such is an attempt to wrap our arms around nature of artistic experience; processes associated with learning; theoretical, historical, and cultural contexts within which we create, encounter, and understand diversity of human visual and material culture; and plethora of human experiences that in some way interact with, influence, or are influenced by artistic engagements.This issue of Studies, though certainly not representative of this entire breadth, reflects three areas that are currently critical to our field: as research, emerging influence of digital technology, and nature of educational experiences within context of higher education.Research, through which new knowledge is created and communicated, has long affected our comprehension of and capacity to interact in and with world. It has revolutionized our sense of what it means to be human and influenced structures through which we understand and transform our world. It continues to alter our daily experience and paradigms through which our future unfolds. Wilson (1 996) makes clear that art must be an essential part of this process (para. 29) and that can contribute significantly to this discourse by developing new kind of artist/researcher (para. 26). This role is based on what Sullivan (2009) describes as potential of artists to engage in research that is imaginative and grounded in critical reflection through artful thinking and mindful practice.It is within this realm of artful thinking and mindful practice that Rita L. Irwin discusses a/r/tography as a research methodology, creative practice and performative pedagogy that lives in rhizomatic practices of inbetween. As recipient of 2012 Invited Studies Lecture, Irwin walks us through of becoming. In herarticle/'Becoming A/r/tography, Irwin describes three a/r/tographic studies in an effort to explicate nature of becomingintensity, becoming-event, and becoming-movement and how these processes of becoming connect in performative cartography that extends opportunities for inquiring artistically into relationships between and among ideas, peoples, cultures, and environments. Seeing this of becoming as an active performative space of living inquiry those involved in these a/r/tographic inquiries found that materiality of their engagement led to grounded understanding of the arts and education as forms of inquiry.If manuscripts submitted to and published in Studies in Art Education in recent years are any indicator, digital technology and research have become increasingly critical for theoretical and practical development of education. I doubt that anyone would argue point that digital world has had and continues to have significant impact on creation, meaning, and evolution of our visual and material culture. In addition to influencing development of new and evolving forms, digital technology has affected processes through which and knowledge is disseminated and understood. Articles by Robert W. Sweeny and Lilly Lu are two examples of how digital interactivity and networking continue to influence our field.In Complex Digital Visual Systems, Sweeny describes use of network analysis as basis for exploring how works of and digital visual technologies exist within realm of our digital visual culture. …

The use of Network Analysis to Assess Relationships Among Stakeholders Within a Tourism Destination: An Empirical Investigation on Costa Smeralda-gallura, Italy

Previous destination marketing and management literature has focused on the importance of establishing effective relationships between the various tourism organizations (both private and public) involved in a tourism offer, in order to improve the competitiveness of a destination. However, very few works examine tourism destinations from a network perspective. Networks can be analyzed from either a relationship or a structural perspective. The aim of the present article is to adopt both of these perspectives to assess the different relationships that exist between tourism stakeholders (both private and public) within a specific Italian 3S tourism destination: Costa Smeralda-Gallura in the North-East of the island of Sardinia. Data were gathered from destination management organization (DMO) internal documents, local press, and through a questionnaire completed by a number of tourism organizations chosen from a list provided by the DMO, which at the time was the public body instructed to keep the official register. Our findings describe the Gallura-based destination as a network specifically defined by a relatively low level of density, collaboration, and integration in the relationships between local stakeholders. The study suggests that destination marketers and policy makers should run internal marketing and branding operations in order to enhance their collaboration, and therefore reach a strategic consensus among stakeholders.

Synthesis of the Bridging Framework of Phragmalin-Type Limonoids

An efficient synthesis of the octahydro-1H-2,4-methanoindene core of phragmalin-type limonoids, such as xyloccensins O and P, is reported. The success of the synthetic route is predicated on the use of network analysis in the retrosynthetic analysis and a Diels-Alder reaction for the synthesis of a key hydrindanone derivative.

Using network analysis to map the formal clinical reporting process in pediatric palliative care: a pilot study

BackgroundContinuity of care is a key component of care in complex and chronic conditions. Despite its importance, it is often absent in chronic-disease management. One challenge has been identifying tools to measure care continuity. In one context important to families, namely pediatric palliative care, we undertook a project to identify continuity and to pilot the use of network analysis as a tool.MethodsNetwork analysis studies patterns of relationships or interactions between members, providing qualitative and quantitative description of network structure.ResultsIn this report we applied network analysis to paper records of clinical consultations and reports for 6 patients with complex conditions. A high degree of discontinuity was identified, and care was fragmented amongst specialist and generalist providers. Information was shared selectively and often moved in only one direction.ConclusionsFamilies have anecdotally reported frustration with poor continuity of care. Network analysis can be a useful tool in describing the discontinuity of care experienced by families dealing with complex and chronic conditions. This tool could be expanded to other systems such as electronic health records and many other health care situations.

A Network Analytic Approach to Understanding Cross-Platform Audience Behavior

This article explains and implements a network analytic approach to the study of cross-platform audience behavior. It begins by conceptualizing large-scale patterns of media use in network terms, treating media outlets as nodes and the levels of audience duplication among them as links. Following that, it explains 2 common measures of audience duplication, Absolute Duplication and Primary Duplication, and offers a new measure, Deviation-from-Random Duplication. In doing so, techniques for converting duplication data into network data are discussed. This approach is then applied to analyze patterns of audience fragmentation, media publics, and audience polarization using data from Nielsen's TV/Internet Convergence Panel. The findings show the value of using a network approach, by contributing to an alternative understanding of these patterns. Economic and policy implications are discussed, as well as broader reflections on the use of network analysis in the study of audience behavior.

Mapping issues and envisaging futures: An evolutionary scenario approach

In parallel with the increasing complexity and uncertainty of social, technological, economic, environmental, political and value systems (STEEPV), there is a need for a systemic approach in Foresight. Recognizing this need, the paper begins with the introduction of the Systemic Foresight Methodology (SFM) is introduced briefly as a conceptual framework to understand and appreciate the complexity of systems and interdependencies and interrelationships between their elements. Conducting Foresight systemically involves a set of ‘systemic’ thought experiments, which is about how systems (e.g. human and social systems, industrial/sectoral systems, and innovation systems) are understood, modelled and intervened for a successful change programme. A methodological approach is proposed with the use of network analysis to show an application of systemic thinking in Foresight through the visualisation of interrelationships and interdependencies between trends, issues and actors, and their interpretation to explain the evolution of systems. Network analysis is a powerful approach as it is able to analyse both the whole system of relations and parts of the system at the same time and hence it reveals the otherwise hidden structural properties of the systems. Our earlier work has attempted to incorporate network analysis in Foresight, which helped to reveal structural linkages of trends and identify emerging important trends in the future. Following from this work, in this paper we combine systemic Foresight, network analysis and scenario methods to propose an ‘Evolutionary Scenario Approach,’ which explains the ways in which the future may unfold based on the mapping of the gradual change and the dynamics of aspects or variables that characterise a series of circumstances in a period of time. Thus, not only are evolutionary scenarios capable of giving a snapshot of a particular future, but also explaining the emerging transformation pathways of events and situations from the present into the future as systemic narratives.

Influence of interactive thematic maps on tourist perceptions: a network analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test if and how interactive thematic maps can encourage the formation of tourists' perceptual maps of attractions in a destination.Design/methodology/approachData were derived from 365 online trip planners generated by users of the Amish Country web site from 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008. Given the nature of the data set, network analysis techniques were used to analyze the data.FindingsNetwork analysis findings demonstrate that the things to do (TTD) included in the interactive Heritage Trail map were more frequently bundled together in the saved trip plans than TTDs included in other sections of the web site. Further analysis suggests that some additional non‐Heritage TTDs could be included in the Heritage Trail map due to their perceptual proximity.Practical implicationsThe findings provide evidence that interactive maps on web sites can play an important role in tourists' planning behavior, which has significant implications for online tourism marketing. The findings also provide insights as to how online behavioral data can be used to derive marketing intelligence.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the theoretical development of the role of interactive maps in travel planning and also illustrates the usefulness of network analysis for investigating tourism‐related issues.

Validating T-RFLP as a sensitive and high-throughput approach to assess bacterial diversity patterns in human anterior nares

While recent works aimed to thoroughly characterize the bacterial community of the human anterior nares of a few candidates, this work sought to analyse a greater cross-section by sampling 100 volunteers. After optimizing and validating the method of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism against six previously pyrosequenced samples, abundant species could be discriminated and their relative abundances measured in a high-throughput manner. The 100 volunteers could be statistically clustered into 12 groups, where two-thirds of volunteers shared more than 40% similarity in respect to their bacterial community structure, while the remaining third clustered into smaller groups being dominated by Dolosigranulum pigrum, Moraxella spp. or Staphylococcus aureus. Moraxella spp. was present predominantly in women rather than in men. The use of network analysis charting bacterial ecological co-occurrences revealed new evidence of likely positive associations between some core human nasal species. So, in the age of post 'omics' and 'deep sequencing', there is still a place for these well-tried and well-tested methods that can offer a rapid, reproducible and economical alternative, whereby also yielding valuable new information.

How to win friends and influence people: Civic engagement in the Philippines

AbstractThe Philippines has the most vibrant and largest civil society in Southeast Asia, which engages constantly with government and has achieved some notable successes. This article traces the origins of the main components of this civil society—the numerous non‐governmental organisations (NGOs)—and delineates their differing characteristics. NGO operations are then examined through the use of network analysis. This approach focuses on the relationships linking NGOs to one another and to the multiplicity of other actors in their arenas of operation, particularly government organisations, thus enabling an appreciation of the complex interactions that occur as NGOs negotiate their environments to achieve their goals. Also relevant are the various strategies and tactics used by NGOs to promote their values, ideologies and activities. These include advocacy, research, capacity building, legislative lobbying and protest. Clearly, while the civic engagement of NGOs in the Philippines has been much celebrated, the societal changes they facilitate are typically incremental in nature. They require continued vigilance and action to ensure sustainability in the context of a weak state where the particularistic demands of politicians are prominent and the state lacks capacity to provide the services it promises. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Regulation of whole body energy homeostasis with growth hormone replacement therapy and endurance exercise

We hypothesized that network analysis is useful to expose coordination between whole body and myocellular levels of energy metabolism and can identify entities that underlie skeletal muscle's contribution to growth hormone-stimulated lipid handling and metabolic fitness. We assessed 112 metabolic parameters characterizing metabolic rate and substrate handling in tibialis anterior muscle and vascular compartment at rest, after a meal and exercise with growth hormone replacement therapy (GH-RT) of hypopituitary patients (n = 11). The topology of linear relationships (| r | ≥ 0.7, P ≤ 0.01) and mutual dependencies exposed the organization of metabolic relationships in three entities reflecting basal and exercise-induced metabolic rate, triglyceride handling, and substrate utilization in the pre- and postprandial state, respectively. GH-RT improved aerobic performance (+5%), lean-to-fat mass (+19%), and muscle area of tibialis anterior (+2%) but did not alter its mitochondrial and capillary content. Concomitantly, connectivity was established between myocellular parameters of mitochondrial lipid metabolism and meal-induced triglyceride handling in serum. This was mediated via the recruitment of transcripts of muscle lipid mobilization (LIPE, FABP3, and FABP4) and fatty acid-sensitive transcription factors (PPARA, PPARG) to the metabolic network. The interdependence of gene regulatory elements of muscle lipid metabolism reflected the norm in healthy subjects (n = 12) and distinguished the regulation of the mitochondrial respiration factor COX1 by GH and endurance exercise. Our observations validate the use of network analysis for systems medicine and highlight the notion that an improved stochiometry between muscle and whole body lipid metabolism, rather than alterations of single bottlenecks, contributes to GH-driven elevations in metabolic fitness.

Analysing tourism stakeholders networks

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the variety of relations existing in tourism networks, identified as complex and mutable entities, where a vast range of stakeholders coexist.Design/methodology/approachAfter a deep review on stakeholder theory, the research applies techniques of network analysis to a case study. Specifically, the analysis focuses on 354 hospitality firms acting in Molise Region (Italy). Each operator was asked to judge the importance to collaborate with other stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of their management and marketing activities. The answers highlight the degree of preference among stakeholders and the resulting information is the level of confidence in the network.FindingsResults confirm the importance of intensifying relationships between tourism companies themselves and between them and policy makers. It appears that public stakeholders are more important for both management and marketing activities than private sector, since they place a much higher position in the scale of preference.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides a starting‐point for further research about non‐quantitative destination performance measurement, such as trust and commitment between the stakeholders in tourism destination, and the use of network analysis' techniques.Practical implicationsDestination managers and policy‐makers may use techniques of network analysis to elaborate useful information for planning and managing the relationships inside the tourism network.Originality/valueThe paper offers a novel approach for developing network analysis in tourism network literature. It explores non‐quantitative destination performance measurements and uses management and marketing activities to analyze relationships between public and private stakeholders.

Brand-usage networks: a demand side approach to brand architecture

Brands represent the outcomes of marketing investment and are an important component of the market value of the firm. Managing a brand portfolio requires an understanding of the role or function of each brand; this critical analysis yields the brand architecture. Typically this involves supply side analysis of a company's owned brands. Using an approach modeled on market structure analysis, we propose simultaneously capturing the interdependence of brands within the portfolio as well as competitive positioning. In this paper we advocate the use of network analysis to provide metrics on brand relationships in the market place. This demand side approach examines the interaction between brands and usage, and provides behavioral insights into the brand architecture that can be used to develop brand portfolio strategies. An example using data from the US car rental industry demonstrates brand-usage interactions as separate and distinct entities in a relational structure. Strategic utility is demonstrated by using network analysis to define the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group brand architecture.

Explicating inter‐organizational linkages of a host community's events network

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the inter‐organizational patterns of an events network that shape a host community's capacity to capitalize on its event portfolio.Design/methodology/approachNetwork analysis was employed to measure the relationships within an events network. The network included nine organizations that participated in the organization of the host community's event portfolio. Data were collected using an instrument adapted from Provan et al. and analyzed using the statistical software for social network analysis, UCINET. Four types of links were measured (shared information, shared resources, help sent, and help received) as well as attitudes toward trust and collaboration.FindingsResults showed that collaboration was not consistent across all types of links. The most central organizations in the network were the Tourism Department and the Chamber. Shared information was the predominant type of link with other types of links being weaker resulting in low multiplexity scores. Reciprocity among existing links was above average. Finally, the organizations appeared to have high levels of trust and positive attitudes toward collaboration.Research limitations/implicationsAn events network can be studied as a measurable mechanism assessing community capacity building in event management and explicating the collaboration patterns in event portfolios that facilitate the joint use of an integrated set of resources for sport and cultural events.Practical implicationsNetwork analysis can be employed to explore and assess the nature, patterns, and effectiveness of inter‐organizational relationships affecting event planning, implementation, and leveraging.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the usefulness of network analysis as a tool for host communities to help build their capacity in event management through the development of local networks. It also suggests that the study of event portfolios provides a suitable context for future research to examine community capacity building in terms of fostering the necessary relationships and synergies to plan, implement, and leverage a series of different events.

The use of network analysis to uncover homeostatic responses of a drought-tolerant sugarcane cultivar under severe water deficit and phosphorus supply

The objective of this study was to identify how changes in the photosynthetic network would be linked to the homeostasis modulation of a drought tolerant sugarcane cultivar subjected to severe water deficit. Moreover, we tested the potential effect of phosphorus supply on the plant physiological responses to drought, because such element is essential to photosynthetic processes. This study was carried out in a greenhouse, where sugarcane plants (Saccharum spp.) cv. RB 86-7515 were grown. One single-node stalk segment was planted in plastic pots (20 L) filled with soil (red-yellow ultisol). Soil fertilization was performed according to the chemical analysis, except for the phosphorus (P) supply. Plants were subjected to the original P concentration in soil (36 mg dm−3) or supplied with 50 mg P2O5 dm−3 using CaH4(PO4)2. Plants were irrigated daily until the beginning of drought treatment. After 90 days of shoot emergence, the water deficit was started at the phenological phase II (tillering). Plants were irrigated with the equivalent to 100% (control) or 10% (water deficit) of daily water requirement based on the evapotranspiration. Light response curves of leaf gas exchange and other physiological and growth variables were performed in each treatment. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the mean values were compared by Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). To assess changes in system network, we evaluated the occurrence of photosynthetic system modulation under distinct water regimes and phosphorus supplying via the concept and measurement of global connectance, C g. Set of results from coefficient of variation (CV) and C g analyses indicated adjustments in the relationships among the elements of the leaf gas exchange network that support the high drought tolerance of the sugarcane cultivar RB 86-7515 and such adjustments enabled the homeostasis of both photosynthesis and plant growth under water deficit. Moreover, P supply improved the sugarcane acclimation capacity by affecting plant characteristics related to water status and photosynthetic performance and causing network modulation under water deficit.

The Application of Network Analysis to the Study of Trial Courts

In the late 1960s, scholars began studying trial courts as organizations. Since the last large wave of these studies in the 1990s, there have been reforms that purport to alter state court institutions. The literature on trial courts has not yet addressed how reforms, like specialized courts, alter trial courts as organizations. Studies of trial courts could also profit from the application of other methods for analyzing organizations. This article explores the use of network analysis to examine the organizational linkages and structure of trial courts. After reviewing the literature on trial courts and recent court reforms, we make a case for the utility of this methodological approach. Recent computer applications of network analysis can visually map the linkages between trial court actors and the organizations that work with them. As a demonstration, we provide some of the results of our study of a state trial court located in a medium-size U.S. city. We conclude by arguing that network analysis as a technique can help scholars test past assumptions about the organization of courts and explore new linkages that are proposed by the adoption of court reforms.

Interorganizational Network Coordination under Stress Caused by Repeated Threats of Disasters

The study addresses interorganizational learning and coordination as well as their impact on collaborative capacity building in disaster environments. Community coordination requires communication and planning to take necessary precautions in the face of severe threats of disasters. The historically unique case of the four Florida hurricanes of 2004 is used to assess coordinated response under conditions of repeated threats of hurricanes. The repeated threat scenario suggests that emergency managers must vigilantly work to keep the partnering public, private, and nonprofit agencies and citizens informed and apprised of the seriousness of the situation. The research examines four hurricane response operations drawing on content analyses of news and situation reports. Content analysis provides interorganizational interactions that are subject to network analysis revealing information about: (1) how critical actors interacted and coordinated, (2) sub-groups under each network, and (3) each network as a system. Using network analysis in analyzing disaster response systems is a new way of exploring the issues from another perspective and through a new methodology. The article showcases the potential use of network analysis in both organizational and emergency management research.