February 28, 2011

Opinion

How to make sense of complexity to identify research and influencing opportunities

Eric Berlow provides a good argument for embracing complexity and looking for simple (although I would say, specific or, better yet, measured -which is not the same as measurable) interventions. Berlow uses social network analysis to develop influence maps and identify the immediate spheres of influence of/on a policy problem.

This could potentially be used alongside the Alignment, Interest and Influence Matrix to (from a policy entrepreneur’s point of view) identify the key public or audience of a think tank’s influencing strategy.

Equally, it can help to inform the research agenda setting process by identifying researchable bottlenecks or problems that influence the particular issue under analysis.

About the author:

Enrique Mendizabal:  Founder, On Think Tanks

Read more from: Enrique Mendizabal

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