Institution: University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Department of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management

Responsible/coordinator: Professor Thomas Schøtt, Dept. of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management, University of Southern Denmark.

Lecturer: Prof. Thomas Schøtt.

Location: University of Southern Denmark, campus Kolding, near train station in Kolding, 6th floor Guest Café.

Time: 13-17 February 2017, Monday to Friday, 9:00-18:00 daily.

Teaching language: English.

Application: By 1 December 2016 to: tsc@sam.sdu.dk (early registration is recommended, as the course expectedly fills up).

Fee: 5500 DKK.

Purpose and content: Networks can be mapped as relations among actors. An actor may be a person, an organization, a nation, a region or some other entity that can engage in action. For example, we may examine – qualitatively and quantitatively – how networks constrain and enable actors’ thoughts and behaviors. Networks are analyzed in sociology, psychology, anthropology, political science, history, geography, communication, and studies of policy, administration and business. Introductions to principles of network analysis can be read via www.anaytictech.com The aim of the course is to empower the participants to analyze networks and to integrate theory and methodology in the analyses of social networks, specifically business networks.

The course will teach the general theoretical and methodological principles and apply them to business networks. The course has two goals. First, the participants will be exposed to, and discuss, a variety of conceptual and theoretical perspectives on the study of business networks, along with methods utilized in these theoretical frameworks. Second, the participants will learn to conduct quantitative analyses of networks. Training will be offered in analyses at the level of the whole system, at the level of subgroups, and at the level of individual actors.

The format combines lectures and discussion with training in analyses. We use SPSS and network analytic software such as UCINET and NETDRAW which each student will have to install. Data on some networks will be made available by the instructor (e.g. some data on interlocking directorates among enterprises in a city), but the participants are also welcome to bring some data on networks (if you have some data on networks, please email tsc@sam.sdu.dk prior to the course).

Literature

• Analyzing Social Networks, Stephen Borgatti, Martin Everett (Sage 2013) (read this around the time you register for the course).
• Doing Social Network Research, Garry Robins (Sage, 2015). (read this around the time you register for the course).
• UCINET software package, that you buy from www.analytictech.com (40 $ for students).

Recommended:

• Introduction to Social Network Methods. Robert Hanneman and Mark Riddle (2005)
  www.faculty.ucr.edu/~hanneman/nettext/
• Social network analysis. John Scott (second edition is preferable)
• Analysis of social networks. David Knoke et al. (second edition is preferable)
• Applied network analysis. Ronald Burt et al.
• Changing organizations: business networks. David Knoke
• Social capital: theory and research. Nan Lin et al.
• Achieving success through social capital. Wayne Baker
• Networking smart. Wayne Baker
• Networks in the global village. Barry Wellman
• Social structures: a network approach (second edition). Barry Wellman et al.
• Social network analysis. Stanley Wasserman et al.
• Network models of the diffusion of innovations. Thomas Valente
• Social Networks (journal), see at www.insna.org (click on Publications)
• Connections (journal), see at www.insna.org (click on Publications)
• Journal of Social Structure, published at www..cmu.edu/joss
• “Network analysis” by Ronald Burt and “Network models” by Thomas Schøtt, in Structure Manual (236 pages) which can be downloaded from www.uchicago.edu/fac/ronald.burt/teaching/STRUCmanual.pdf

Participants: The course is intended for researchers and PhD students who are studying business networks and who wish to acquire this network analytic tool and the skill to map and analyze networks. The course does not presume any acquaintance with network analysis (although familiarity with quantitative research methods will be useful).

Credits/evaluation: 5 ECTS. Certificates of completion will be issued to those successfully completing all requirements of the course (including full attendance and submission of all required assignments). Requirement: A batch of training exercises and reading in December-January. The many training exercises will be assigned by 1 December 2016, and then solutions must be submitted weekly until meeting in the course. The purpose of the many training exercises is to train a basic understanding of ideas and techniques of network analysis.

Further information: Please contact Thomas Schøtt, tsc@sam.sdu.dk