Facebook and twitter aren’t the only networks that matter in Arab Spring

It’s amazing to see how widespread internet and cell phone access and web 0.2 tools have forever changed the way that social movements form and operate. I am sure we have only seen the very first glimpse of this and are far from understanding how it works. The term “infectious idea” gives us some guidance [...]

Who is most powerful… and does it matter?

One pattern I have seen evolve in the past policy level Net-Map exercises is that it is not so much about the one most powerful actor but a group of maybe 3-6 very powerful actors who all fill different roles and just like pillars of a house, you can’t remove one and still have a [...]

Net-Map Level 1 Certification Course (Washington, DC)

We offer Net-Map certification courses on 4 levels: Level 1: Net-Map Facilitation Level 2: Net-Map Qualitative and Visual Data Collection and Analysis Level 3: Net-Map Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis Level 4: Net-Map Mastery – Train the Trainer Join us for a 2 day, Level 1 Net-Map class on the 4.-5. of August in Washington [...]

Who wants to learn Net-Map and why?

Paolo Brunello and I discussed who our potential participants for the Net-Map Summer School in Vicenza would be. Why would they want to learn it, what would they want to do with it? I came up with this list: Advocates: What they want to do with Net-Map: These are people who want to change the [...]

What you do and who you are

Have you ever felt that you will never be able to achieve what you want because of the kind of person you are? Have you thought: “I will never be successful because (and now pick at least one) I am a procrastinator.” I am not good at selling my work.” I am shy.” I am [...]

Net-Map class in Italy in June!!! Not July!!!

Sorry, the last post has a confusing mistake: We are planning to hold our Net-Map class in Vicenza, Italy on the 27 and 28 of June. Not July. Sorry for the confusion.

Net-Map Class in Italy: Eat Pasta, draw Spaghetti diagrams…

I believe in having your cake and eating it. If you want to have a seminar and learn something you are really interested in, why not do it in a beautiful place? How about Vicenza, a UNESCO World Heritage site close to Venice, Italy. So you can have your mind blown in the day time [...]

Telling a great story well

I’m always drawn to good, hands-on and approachable visualization as a tool for getting the message across. Today I stumbled over this photo story about a participatory video project in African villages which really inspired me. I love the story but even more concrete and easy to apply in my own work is the idea [...]

If it’s complex, keep it simple

And if you can’t, ask for help. I just talked with Andrea Fuller who runs Mindfarm (who knows Net-Map and the corporate world) about the question: Why would a CEO want to use Net-Map? My own explanation is as complex as the method. I am just too deeply involved. She gave me a great brief [...]

Network till you drop?

Today I talked with one of the participants of my Net-Map masterclass about the first Net-Map she is planning to do. She works for a charitable foundation and is looking at how to best manage and improve her donor relations. While we were talking about how to use Net-Mapping strategically, we soon came to an [...]