What is Netmapping?

"Net-Map is an interview-based mapping tool that helps people understand, visualize, discuss, and improve situations in which many different actors influence outcomes. By creating Influence Network Maps, individuals and groups can clarify their own view of a situation, foster discussion, and develop a strategic approach to their networking activities. More specifically, Net-Map helps players to determine what actors are involved in a given network, how they are linked, how influential they are, and what their goals are." (Schiffer, 2007)

Visualization Types

  • Financial Network

    This network traces the web of financial interconnections within the NetMap, highlighting the flow of funds and financial dependencies between entities.

  • Authority Network

    This network delineates the hierarchy of command within the NetMap, illustrating the authoritative structure by showcasing who supervises whom.

  • Communication network

    This network illustrates the communication pathways within the NetMap, showing how information is exchanged between different stakeholders.

Methodology

In a structured process conducted over two meetings with experts within the medical field, we developed a comprehensive stakeholder map pertinent to the implementation of the European Code against Cancer. Initially, stakeholders were identified and each represented by a post-it note on a large paper canvas. These entities were systematically categorized according to their operational level (regional, national, and European) and organizational type (NGO, academia, private, or public institutions). To quantify each stakeholder's perceived influence, we employed an innovative method of stacking magnets on the respective post-it notes, with a higher number of magnets indicating greater influence.

Subsequently, the experts delineated four distinct types of inter-stakeholder relationships: communication, influence, authority, and financial flow, by drawing lines between the post-its. This initial analog mapping was eventually digitized, leading to the creation of a sophisticated visual representation that facilitates the inspection of the complex network of interactions and hierarchies among stakeholders involved in the European Code against Cancer's implementation.