With businesses and government agencies increasingly operating in a highly information-based economy and technologically-linked society, knowing the implications of various social network connections that link individuals and organization will become essential, according to John Burrett.

Burrett is president and principal consultant at Haiku Analytics. He is an expert in using data graphics, social network analysis, and systems mapping for evaluating and developing policies.

In the upcoming TechGov Forum slated for November 7 and 8 at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, Burrett will be discussing how government agencies, policymakers and program evaluators can effectively use social network analysis improve processes and develop better policies.

“Entrepreneurs and managers with their eye to the bottom line, and government policymakers and program evaluators with an escalating imperative of policy and cost-effectiveness will need to find ways to adapt,” said Burrett. “…The ability to map and understand networks of economic and social players and relationships will be more and more critical.”

Social network analysis is a method of mapping the connections between people, organizations and issues, understand channels of influence, information dissemination, and collaboration, he explained.

As government organizations develop more policies and programs aimed at creating collaborative communities, networks, and means of spreading information, it becomes more important to understand these networks.

Burrett views network analysis as a form of data analysis meant to uncover the nature, extent, and structure of interwoven connections of various organizations as organisms or human subgroups.

“The most well-known use of the methodology is in ‘social network analysis’ involving connections of people in communities such as LinkedIn and Facebook,” he said.

With much of government activity now focused on research, technology and information dissemination, effective pathways for diffusing information becomes critical.

“Program evaluation should also be concerned with this critical element of a successful activity,” he said. “It’s not just how many hits there are on a site, or whether a sample of users is happy with the information, that is important.”

Understanding how the information has spread, why or why not and how it could be distributed more effectively, become critical, said Burrett.

If you’re interested in finding out how network analysis can be a benefit to your organization, attend Burrett’s presentation titled Mapping networks for information, collaboration, and community-building policy,  at the 2017 TechGov Forum.

Other key speakers in the event include:

  • Tammy Labelle, assistant deputy minister, Integrated Services Branch
  • Jennifer Urbanski , account executive, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
  • Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada
  • Bobby Singh, CISO and global head of infrastructure, TMX
  • Ramy Sedra, data and analytics consulting leader, PwC Canada
  • Imran Ahmad, partner, Miller Thomson LLP
  • Alison Taylor, consultant, Performance Solutions Inc.
  • George Ross, editor-in-chief, Canadian Government Executive
  • Philippe Johnston, chief information officer and department security officer,
  • Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Departmental Security Officer (DSO), Social Sciences Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) & the Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Michael Gord,  founder and CEO of MLG Blockchain Consulting
  • Robert Weisman, engineer in residence, part-time professor and candidate PhD (e-Business) University of Ottawa
  • Thomas Kearney, senior project officer, Open Government Secretariat, chief information officer branch, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
  • Patrick Cormier, vice-president (business development) Notarius Inc.

To find out more about the event, the program agenda, and to register, click on this link