Comments on: Take seriously the power of networks (or just look at some COOL maps) http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/ just asking that aid benefit the poor Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:21:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Marc Maxson http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8881 Marc Maxson Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:20:08 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8881 I haven't played with Xigi before. I'd been tinkering with http://mapper.nndb.com/ to achieve the same connectivity. As cool as "seeing" a reputation system as a map might seem, none of these are really -doing-centric yet. I'd like to click and drag myself around the network and fire off an email at one node, or donate money to an org at another hub, and poll every spoke of a NGO hub with these visualizers to ask something like, "have you ever collaborated with this org on teaching?" Or if I want to find a place to teach science at a university in Kenya, wouldn't one of these maps be nice for figuring out who at the university is most likely to asnswer an email about opportunities? I've wasted dozens of hours this past year on unanswered inquiries. I haven’t played with Xigi before. I’d been tinkering with http://mapper.nndb.com/ to achieve the same connectivity. As cool as “seeing” a reputation system as a map might seem, none of these are really -doing-centric yet. I’d like to click and drag myself around the network and fire off an email at one node, or donate money to an org at another hub, and poll every spoke of a NGO hub with these visualizers to ask something like, “have you ever collaborated with this org on teaching?”

Or if I want to find a place to teach science at a university in Kenya, wouldn’t one of these maps be nice for figuring out who at the university is most likely to asnswer an email about opportunities? I’ve wasted dozens of hours this past year on unanswered inquiries.

]]> By: The bloggosphere is full of ideas on aid and SMS today « Chewy Chunks http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8875 The bloggosphere is full of ideas on aid and SMS today « Chewy Chunks Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:52:55 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8875 [...] Take seriously the power of networks (or just look at some COOL maps) http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/ [...] [...] Take seriously the power of networks (or just look at some COOL maps) http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/ [...]

]]> By: why am I here? why are we all here, man? I believe I was put on this earth to spread love. « Overheardabroad's Blog http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8851 why am I here? why are we all here, man? I believe I was put on this earth to spread love. « Overheardabroad's Blog Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:42:38 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8851 [...] in the era of connectedness and social networks. or perhaps we never left. whether good or bad, nepotism is here to [...] [...] in the era of connectedness and social networks. or perhaps we never left. whether good or bad, nepotism is here to [...]

]]> By: Alberto Behar http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8800 Alberto Behar Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:11:39 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8800 If anyone is interested in finding out whether better (from a development perspective) networks can be brokered by development agencies, they might wish to take a look at http://www.csae.ox.ac.uk/workingpapers/pdfs/2009-18text.pdf. (More cool maps too) If anyone is interested in finding out whether better (from a development perspective) networks can be brokered by development agencies, they might wish to take a look at http://www.csae.ox.ac.uk/workingpapers/pdfs/2009-18text.pdf.
(More cool maps too)

]]> By: Michael http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8624 Michael Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:09:48 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8624 Hiring people that you know (or people who know people who you know) may also contribute to organizational malaise. If only like-minded people are hired, then valid criticisms may be ignored and critical self-reflection may never take place. Hiring people that you know (or people who know people who you know) may also contribute to organizational malaise. If only like-minded people are hired, then valid criticisms may be ignored and critical self-reflection may never take place.

]]> By: Todd Riffey http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8621 Todd Riffey Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:13:42 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8621 One of the things holding back the development of a globally competitive and diverse private sector in many developing countries is the small size of the business elite in each country, which limits the number of connections that each business leader can have. That is why Global Progress Specialists (www.GlobalProgress.biz) is creating a cross-border social network for the business leaders of SMEs in developing countries, to create a critical mass of peers with which these leaders can connect. One of the things holding back the development of a globally competitive and diverse private sector in many developing countries is the small size of the business elite in each country, which limits the number of connections that each business leader can have. That is why Global Progress Specialists (www.GlobalProgress.biz) is creating a cross-border social network for the business leaders of SMEs in developing countries, to create a critical mass of peers with which these leaders can connect.

]]> By: Bill Easterly http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8607 Bill Easterly Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:14:13 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8607 Sulaiman, Yes, you're right. Bad guys can use the power of social networks as well. They can also use education, technology and other things good for development. Sulaiman,

Yes, you’re right. Bad guys can use the power of social networks as well. They can also use education, technology and other things good for development.

]]> By: Sulaiman Wasty http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8606 Sulaiman Wasty Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:11:15 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8606 End result: revolving doors. Italian/ Russian mafias know much better how to cultivate "social capital". End result: revolving doors. Italian/ Russian mafias know much better how to cultivate “social capital”.

]]> By: William Easterly http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8604 William Easterly Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:39:01 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8604 Blaise, of course there is good and bad nepotism. the key thing is what is your motivation when you hire your relative -- to divert other people's money to your own family? or to achieve high value in your own firm by hiring somebody whose strengths you already know very well and whom you know you can trust? Blaise, of course there is good and bad nepotism. the key thing is what is your motivation when you hire your relative — to divert other people’s money to your own family? or to achieve high value in your own firm by hiring somebody whose strengths you already know very well and whom you know you can trust?

]]> By: Blaise http://aidwatchers.com/2010/01/take-seriously-the-power-of-networks-or-just-look-at-some-cool-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-8589 Blaise Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:14:15 +0000 http://aidwatchers.com/?p=2440#comment-8589 After few years in an international organization in Africa I have now some problems to consider that social capital is not often nepotism. After few years in an international organization in Africa I have now some problems to consider that social capital is not often nepotism.

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