Detection the Coordinators by using of Social Network Analysis: Case study: in an Emergency Management

Resumen

The adverse consequences of emergencies obviouslysupport the need for integrated preparednessof operational teams at the emergencyresponse management to do their best to response mostreasonably and effectively. The main obstacle to this preparednessis the lack of coordination across the variousgroups which obstruct attempts for preparation. Achievementof proper coordination requires effective relationshipamong all team members. One way to improve coordinationis to identify effective individuals that play vitalroles as coordinators in the network. This survey has beendone among 142 responders of the emergency management,as a case study. To identify members who occupythe central positions as coordinators, this study utilizedcentrality indicators including degree, closeness, and betweennessof social network analysis at the individual level.The data were collected through structured interviews andwere analyzed into social network analysis program, UCINET6.0. This study, also, performed an attempt to investigatethe relationship between demographic factors and centralityindicators. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS16 and GraphPad. According to the findings, individualswith high mutual selections in both directions (in and outdegrees) had more chance to be accepted as powerful andinfluential members by other members (P<0.0000). Findingsof this study indicated that there is no significant relationshipbetween demographic factors (age, material statues, educationlevel) and centrality indicators (P>0.05).Also, there wasa significant relationship between demographic variablessuch as work experience, type of unit and the number ofthe experience in the emergency situation and the centralityindicators (P<0.05). Consequently, the present research studiedthe relationships among the team members of the emergencymanagement to select coordinators. The findings ofthis study may allow the planners and decision makers to beaware of hidden relationships in their network.