Objectives

The objective of this module is to provide students with an understanding of social network and agent based approaches to understanding collaboration.

Course Content

The module focuses on the structure and evolution of networks, drawing on knowledge from disciplines as diverse as sociology, mathematics, computer sciences, economics, and physics. Both theoretical and applied approaches including network theory will be used to give students a practical introduction on how to make use of social network in a holistic perspective, including indigenous forms of networking for the purposes of information gathering, the maintenance of social contacts, leveraging of networks in disaster situation decision making and how people and organizations adapt to collaborative work to the capabilities offered by social media. The topics to cover under this module include; Social network theory, network for improving communication, network planning tools for practitioners, challenges in the use of social network and networking, application of social network into emergency management policy and practice.

Mode of Delivery    

The course will be delivered through lectures, fieldwork, laboratory exercise, group exercise and presentations.