How can we turn the Alliance into

a network for influence and action

with the help of social media
Drew Mackie, David Wilcox, John Popham
Thurrock Tobacco Control Alliance April 5 2011
 We need to think
about ...
• The Alliance as a network of partners and projects
- map the connections

• How to build a stronger network with greater

reach and wider involvement

• How current and new projects can work better

with social media

• What support will be needed to achieve that

Networks and how to
build them
Drew Mackie
drewmackie@mac.com
Three network activities

Network Analysis / Design

Networking

Network Building
Newbuild
Conversion

Extension
 Network types
Hierarchical

Alliances

Networks can be
conversational,
cooperative or
Diffuse
collaborative
BSN Open Night connections
This network map shows the connections between some organisations attending the Big
Society Network Open Night event on July 6 2010 - those that returned questionnaire
forms which asked “ who do you work with most?”
The map divides into two:
•Organisations connected into a wider network (left)
•Clusters that do not connect to the wider network (below)
Organisations that are most central to the wider network are shown shaded and their
centrality scores are shown in a shaded box above and to the right of each node.
The mapping was an an experiment to show how the technique might be used to identify
key connectors, and where to focus network building.
The event was organised at short notice, and not all those attending filled in
questionnaires, so the results should be seen as an example of what might be achieved
through a more substantial mapping exercise.
Cluster Analysis
shows the clusters of organisation
that are more linked
gives a clear picture of alliances
Shows the main bridges
Berwick upon Tweed regeneration partnership
 Skills /
Resources
Analysis

Partnership
Assessment
Network Centrality
Indicates how central organisations are, in terms of
the flows of information and influence
2 types: closeness (hubs) and betweenness
(gatekeepers). Betweenness is generally better for
showing the structure of a network
Centrality can be compared with the location of
skills and resources to assess how effective a
network is
Clusters of organisations can be identified for joint
working
Social media and social
reporting
David Wilcox and John Popham
 Social media

• Partly places and tools like Facebook, blogs, Twitter

• Even more about being open, connecting, having

conversations, telling stories

• People creating their own content with photos,

video as well as text
 Social media challenges

• Can officers get online access from work?

• Can officers engage publicly online?

• What skills and support may people need?

 Social reporting

• Acting as an online host

• Shooting video, recording audio, writing stories

• Helping other people find their voice online

 Social media surgeries

• Expert “surgeons” help “patients”

• Informal peer-to-peer learning

• People set their own pace and needs

• “Patients” learn to be “surgeons”