NETWORK ANALYSIS

Graph Theory

It provides a set of abstract concepts and methods for the analysis of graphs.
These, in combination with other analytical tools and with methods developed
specifically for the visualization and analysis of social (and other) networks, form the
basis of what we call SNA methods.

• Nodes are actors

• Edges are relationships

• Weighted strengths

• Network topology

• Star, ring, tree, mesh, fully connected

• Linked networks

What is a Network?

Network is a set of nodes, points, or locations connected by means of data,

voice, and video communications for the purpose of exchange or interaction.

Node is any entity in a network (person, system, group, organization).

Tie/Link is a Relationship or interaction between two nodes.

Fundamental Concepts in (Social) Network Analysis

 Node, Actor (Social Network)

 Tie, Link
 Dyad Triad
 Subgroup and Group
Node and Actor

 “Discrete individual, corporate, or collective social units” (Wasserman/Faust

2008:17)
 Node Example: Products in a purchase network, Computers in the Internet.
 Actor Examples: people in a group, departments within in a corporation, public
service agency in a city, nation-states in the world system
 “Node” does not imply that they have intention or the ability to “act”

Tie and Link

 Actors (nodes) are linked to another by social ties (links).

 Example of direct ties in SNA (Wasserman/Faust 2008:17):
o Evaluation of one person by another (expressed friendship, linking, or
respect)
o Transfers of material resources (business transactions, lending or
borrowing things)
o Behavioral interaction (talking together, sending messages)
o Physical connection (a road, river, or bridge connecting two points)
o Biological relationships (kinship or descent).
 Indirect ties Association or affiliation (jointly attending a social event, or belonging
to the same social club).

Undirected vs Directed Ties

 Undirected relations
o Attended meeting with
o Communicates daily with
 Directed relations
o Lent money to
  Logically vs empirically directed ties
o Empirically, even undirected relations can be non- symmetric due to
measurement error

Strength of Ties or Links

 We can attach values to ties, representing quantitative attributes;

o Strength of relationship
o Information capacity of tie
o Rates of flow or traffic across tie
o Distances between nodes
o Probabilities of passing an information
o Frequency of interaction

Dyad and Triad

 Dyad: a tie between two actors

 “Consists of a pair of actors and the (possible) tie(s) between them”
(Wasserman/Faust 2008:18).
 Shows “properties of pair wise relationships, such as whether ties are
reciprocated or not, or whether specific types of multiple relationships tend
to occur together”.
 Triad: “Triples of actors and associated ties” (Wasserman/Faust 2008:19)
 “A subset of three actors and the (possible) tie(s) among them”
(Wasserman/Faust 2008:19).
 Triadic analyses focus on the fact whether the triad is.
 Transitive : if actor i “likes” actor j, and actor j in turn “likes” actor k, then
actor i will also “like” actor k.
 Balanced: if actors i and j like each other, then i and j should be similar in
their evaluation of a third actor, k, and i and j dislike each other, then they
should differ in their evaluation of third actor.
Group and Subgroup

 Group “is the collection of all actors on which ties are to be measured”
(Wasserman/Faust 2008:19)
 Subgroup of actors is defined “as any subset of actors, and all ties among them”
(Wasserman/Faust 2008:19)
 Actors in a group “belong together in a more or less bounded set (…) consists of
a finite set of individuals on which network measurements are made”
(Wasserman/Faust 2008:19)
 “however, in research applications we are usually forced to look at finite
collections of actors and ties between them.” (Wasserman/Faust 2008:20)

A. SCHEDULING METHOD

Schedule Network Analysis in Project Management

Project schedule network analysis is an analytical technique to identify critical path and
list of critical project activities. It further specifies the degree of schedule flexibility in a
given network logic. The output of this analysis is a schedule model. This project
schedule model serves as a basis for further project execution, analysis, and reporting.
Critical Path Method (CPM) is the most common schedule analysis technique.

Advantages of Schedule Network Analysis

The Schedule network analysis allows all stakeholders are aware of activities that
define project success. It is an essential project management tool that finds application
in not only schedule development but also schedule control process.
Following are some of the advantages of performing project schedule network analysis

1. Sequence of Activities: Schedule network analysis specifies the logical

sequence of activities required to achieve project goals. It uses sequencing and
dependencies to establish activity relationships.
2. Critical Path: Schedule network analysis uses techniques like CPM and PERT
to identify the critical path of a project. The critical path is the longest path of a
schedule network diagram. Refer to paragraph “Critical Path Method (CPM)
Scheduling” to understand other features of critical path.
3. Project Duration: It analytically estimates the minimum duration before which
the project cannot complete.
4. Critical Activities: Not all activities can start and finish at the same time.
Activities on critical path are critical activities. Hence schedule network analysis
indicates exactly which activities need maximum attention of project team.
5. Schedule flexibility: It is permissible delay in activities that are not on critical
path. It uses mathematical calculations to establish early start, early finish, late
start, and late finish of each activity.
6. Schedule Model: It is the output of analysis process. The schedule model helps
to conduct risk and scenario analysis of project schedule.
7. Schedule Analysis: The schedule model allows further analysis like What-if
analysis, scenario analysis and schedule compression techniques.

Relationships Between Schedule Activities

Firstly, an important step in schedule network analysis process is to establish logical

relationships among schedule activities. Understanding relationships among activities
allows construction of logical schedule network diagram. The following post helps to
understand how to establish relationships among project activities.
Types of Schedule Network Diagrams

Secondly, it is essential to construct the schedule network diagram. An important benefit

of using schedule network analysis is that it allows visual representation of the project
schedule. To achieve this it uses network diagramming techniques. The following two
techniques help in constructing project schedule network diagram:

 Precedence Diagram Method (PDM)

 Arrow Diagram Method (ADM)

Precedence Diagram Method (PDM)

In PDM technique nodes represent the schedule activities. A graphical link between the
nodes establishes logical relationships. The links also shows the sequence of
performing the schedule activities. Activity-On-Node (AON) is one such method of
representing the schedule network logic using the PDM technique. Critical Path Method
(CPM) uses AON method for constructing the project schedule network diagram.

Arrow Diagram Method (ADM)

In Activity-On-Arrow (AOA) method arrows represent the schedule activities. AOA is an

example of constructing the project schedule network diagram using ADM technique.
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) uses AOA technique to construct
the project schedule network diagram.

Schedule Network Analysis Methods

Following are the two most popular project network analysis techniques.

 Program Review and Evaluation Technique (PERT)

 Critical Path Method (CPM)
Following are the other methods to analyse a project schedule network diagram

 Critical Chain Method (CCM)

 What-if Analysis
 Resource Optimization Techniques

Program Review and Evaluation Technique (PERT)

Program evaluation and review technique uses three point estimation to calculate the
duration estimates. However, PERT is used mainly to control the time aspect of
projects.

Critical Path Method (CPM) Scheduling Technique

Critical Path Method (CPM) is the most common schedule network analysis
methodology. CPM analysis also calculates early start, early finish, late start and late
finish with ease. Moreover, CPM is used mainly to control both time and cost aspects of
the project.

Schedule Network Critical Path

Schedule network analysis technique chiefly identifies the critical path. Both PERT and
CPM aim to establish critical path and critical activities of a project. The following
snapshot enumerates critical path characteristics.

Critical Path Characteristics

1. The longest path in the network diagram
2. Specifies the minimum project duration
3. Indicates amount of scheduling flexibility.
4. A project can have more than one critical path.
 5. Critical path changes as the project progresses.
6. Total float of activities on critical path is zero (0).
7. In network diagram bold line denotes the critical path.

B. PROJECT NETWORK DIAGRAM

Network Diagram

 Any systematic display of the logical relationship between the project’s activities.
 It is always depicted from left to right to of the logical show the chronological
sequence of project execution.
 Vulgarly known as PERT network.
 The diagram shows the interrelationships between all activities in a project

The Origin of the Network Diagram

 Developed in 1957 by the US Navy during the construction of the Polaris
submarines.
 It was a joint effort between the Navy and Lockheed, a traditional aviation and
military company with links to NASA and Booz, Allen & Hamilton.
 By using this new tool, it was possible to reduce the development time of the
Polaris Project in 45%.
Type of Network Diagram
 AOA – Activity on Arrow
 AON – Activity On Node
AOA – Activity On Arrow
 Shows the diagram with the activities being represented by arrows that connect
to an initial and a final state.
 Mainly used when managing projects without a computer.
 Also known as ADM (Arrow Diagramming Method).
AON – Activity On Node
 Shows the activities on nodes between the arrows.
 Currently the most used visualization tool because it is automatically generated
by most of the project management software tools.

REFERENCE:

https://www.slideshare.net/ricardo.vargas/ricardo-vargas-diagrama-rede-projeto-ppt-en

https://milestonetask.com/schedule-network-analysis/#.Xk2PX4hS-M-

https://slideplayer.com/slide/4631158/?fbclid=IwAR1EqA6aYMwZmaPqLa9Z_AEbv-
AmdNICtmpRNR6uatrzT0gu0EENl3RLHcc