Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Tip
Make sure you know what your goals are at the outset, and revise as
needed through the process.
Collect: Identify Data
Assuming there is a clear objective, the next big step—and sometimes the
most difficult step—concerns data collection and data preparation. Rarely is
graph-oriented data readily available and nicely formatted. One quote often
repeated in network analysis is, “First you need to 'collect the dots' before
you can 'connect the dots.'”
Your first challenge may be determining what data to collect. First, identify
what data is available relative to your objective. Also, recall that a graph is
made up of two related data sets: a set of nodes and a set of links (that is,
the connections between the nodes, also called
edges
). Identify which of
the data available may have information that contains links. Consider the
following example.
Suppose that a senior sales rep is working with a team on a major account
in a sales process that takes many months. Each team member works with
different staff at the major account. The senior sales rep recognizes the
importance ofunderstanding thecustomer,whichmeansunderstanding the
various staff employed by the customer, and their relationships. Ideally, the
rep wants a map of all the staff and their interpersonal relationships—that
is, a graph. The rep would like to see clusters of staff, where the key
communication channels are, and which staff occupies the most critical
points in the network.
Figure 3-1
shows an example.
