Social Network Analysis for Virtual Communities

Abstract

The social network analysis (SNA) method is a set of methods considered these days as a paradigm or a method that offers “the mapping and measuring of relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, animals, computers or other information/knowledge processing entities. The nodes in the network are the people and groups while the links show relationships or flows between the nodes. SNA provides both a visual and a mathematical analysis of human relationships. Management consultants use this methodology with their business clients and call it organizational network analysis (ONA).” (Krebs, 2005)