Network research remains dominated by approaches involving the analysis of numerical data stored in data matrices with the aim of identifying the effects of hidden social structures. While such research has advanced our understanding of social networks at the inter-personal, inter-unit and inter-organizational level, repeated calls have been made for network research to attend to the situated meanings attached to both relationships and network structures. In this article, we advance a nascent literature on qualitative methods for social network analysis by drawing together developments in visual network research from across the social sciences. We introduce a typology of three visual methods for the collection of network data using network maps: participatory network mapping, network map interviews and visual network surveys. Drawing on three empirical examples from our research in the inter-organizational domain, we demonstrate how these methods can be used for the collection of qualitative and quantitative relational data, and how they can be triangulated with other qualitative methods and social network analysis. We evaluate the merits and limitations of the methods presented and conclude that visual network research is a useful addition to existing methods for network research in business and management studies.We are greatly indebted to everyone who participated in the research reported in this article. We would like to thank
Based on the assumption that the water, energy and food sectors are linked, the nexus concept drives research into the integration of governance systems. Nexus governance requires actors to engage across policy domains, governance levels and public, private and civic spheres. There is a need for a better understanding of how stakeholders navigate the inter‐organisational networks constituting a given nexus. In this article, we present a three‐dimensional relational framework and corresponding methods for investigating nexus governance. Drawing on mixed‐methods network research with organisations implementing water, energy, agricultural and environmental policies in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia, we demonstrate how our framework for investigating network structure, relations and narratives can inform a relational understanding of nexus governance.
BACKGROUND Open source Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can improve healthcare delivery in low and lower-middle income countries (LMICs). There is demand for open source EHR systems in LMICs as they are cost-effective and provide the flexibility to customise systems to meet context-specific needs. However, open source EHRs have not proliferated rapidly. Implementation barriers prevent successful adoption. Little is known about the roles of implementers in addressing these barriers. Existing research focuses predominantly on technical perspectives for open source EHR project implementation. In contrast, this scoping review identifies contextual barriers impacting the implementation of open source EHR systems for LMICs. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the key contextual barriers impacting the implementation of open source EHR systems for LMIC settings, and identifies areas for future research. METHODS An interdisciplinary scoping literature review was undertaken, guided by a systematic methodological framework based on Arksey and O’Malley. Seven databases were selected from three disciplines: Medicine and health sciences, computing, and social sciences. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists were utilised to assess the quality of relevant studies. Data was collated, summarised, results were reported qualitatively adopting a narrative synthesis approach. RESULTS The 13 studies included in this review examined open source EHR implementation in LMICs from three distinct perspectives: socio-environmental barriers, technological barriers, and organisational barriers. Key issues that influenced the implementation were identified in the literature as: limited funding (n=13), sustainability (n=13), organisational and management (n=11), infrastructure (n=10), data privacy and protection (n=10), and ownership (n=5). Data protection and confidentiality, ownership and ethics emerged as important issues, often overshadowed by technical processes (n=11). CONCLUSIONS While open source EHRs have the potential to facilitate enhanced healthcare and encourage sustainable development in LMICs, it is vital to take into consideration the specific context in which such technologies are to be implemented within. This study revealed the key perceived barriers that impact open source EHR implementation success. Research is required to better understand the implementation process and how socio-environmental, technical, and organisational barriers can be addressed, particularly in relation to ethics and management of data protection. We hope that the review results will inform areas for future research and enhance implementation.
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