This diploma thesis is focusing on description of processing social network analysis, design and implementation of a model that simulates a particular social network and its analysis. Social networks are modern and very used in this time. They are very good point for exploring. This project deal with static analysis social network, where social network is constructed by graph. We nd out di erent properties of single component and than we establish signi cance of them. Relationships between components are important too for us, because they have a big influence on propagation information in network. Structural properties figure out existence of di fferent communities. We simulate social network with multi-agent systems, they are desirable for represent changes in network. Multi-agent systems have implemented a simulation model that represents a particular social network. His behaviour was analyzed and examinated by chosen methods.

Trismegistos (TM, http://www.trismegistos.org) is a metadata platform for the study of texts from the Ancient World, coordinated and maintained by the KU Leuven research group of Ancient History. Originating from the Prosopographia Ptolemaica, TM was developed in 2005 as a database containing information about people mentioned in papyrus documents from Ptolemaic Egypt. In other related databases additional information about these texts was found: when they were written (dates), where they are stored (collections) and to which archive they belong (archives). The following years also epigraphic data were added to these databases. The TM platform has two important goals: firstly it functions as an aggregator of metadata for which it also links to other projects (e.g. Papyrological Navigator, Epigraphic Database Heidelberg), secondly it can be used as an identifying tool for all of its content such as Ancient World texts, places and people. With its unique identifying numbers and stable URI\''s, TM sets standards for and bridges the gap between different digital representations of Ancient World texts. In the future TM aims not only to expand its coverage, but also to provide new ways to study these ancient sources, for example via social network analysis trough its latest addition: Trismegistos networks ((http://www.trismegistos.org/network).

This master's diploma thesis focuses on the dissemination of information in the context of the Czech community of so-called foodies (people who like good food and are constantly looking for new experiences in this field). The theoretical part outlines the development of online communities environments, from web forums to social media. It also examines the possibility of applying Katz and Lazarsfeld's model of the two-step flow of communication in the online environment. We also explain the features of online food communication and present widespread social media foodie platforms, including the Czech app Scuk. The research part of the thesis uses the social network analysis method to identify opinion leaders of this online community in the environment of Twitter, Instagram and Scuk and examines how the information spread and the form of this community changes with regards to the particular online environment in question. The thesis also includes qualitative research on the impact of the online information spread on the offline environment - more specifically, on sales, visit rate and reputation of selected Prague restaurants.

Social network analysis is a fruitful approach to the study of relations and interaction between actors involved in organized crime. This dissertation utilizes network perspective to study several cases of organized criminal groups. It is divided into eight chapters. The first introductory chapter is followed by a chapter reviewing the most important network concepts, measures, and models, and their application in the study of organized crime. The four subsequent chapters are empirical studies. The third chapter is a case study of a political corruption network, known as the Rath affair. The study shows that the network consists of different, sometimes overlapping, relations (multiplexity), namely collaboration, resource transfer, and pre-existing ties. The network shows a clear core-periphery structure with politicians forming a dense core and businesspeople occupying periphery. The following chapter studies a case of counterfeit alcohol distribution network, known as the methanol affair. The network structure is composed of two subgroups bridged by one tie, permitting relatively efficient distribution of the beverages. Furthermore, statistical models point out the importance of triadic closure and pre-existing ties for the formation of ties in the network. The fifth chapter tests an influential theory in...

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The value of accountability as a key feature of strengthening health systems and reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality is increasingly emphasised globally, nationally and locally. Frontline health professionals and managers play a crucial role in promoting maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services in an equitable and accountable manner. They are at the interface between higher-level health system management and communities, facing demands from both sides and often expected to perform beyond their available means. Although accountability is a central topic in the governance of MNCH literature, it has mostly been approached at global and national levels, with little understanding of how accountability is integrated into the routine functioning of local health systems. This PhD explores the forms and functioning of accountability at the district level focusing on MNCH as a programmatic area with long-established institutional mechanisms (structures and processes) in South Africa (SA). The thesis is presented in the form of four empirical papers (published or submitted), exploring different dimensions of accountability, which are embedded in a series of narrative chapters. In this thesis, accountability is understood as a set of relations between an accountholder and ‘accountor’ (or duty bearer), in which the latter provides information or justification for actions or decisions taken, and faces the resulting consequences of his/her actions (reward or sanction). Accountability mechanisms are the means to regulate accountability relationships and include broad strategies, interventions or instruments. These mechanisms can take various forms including performance, financial and public accountability, and operate both vertically (accountability inside bureaucratic hierarchies, or towards external stakeholders and/or the community), or horizontally (between peers, ‘neighbour’ units, departments or ministries in a national health system). Drawing conceptually on the field of governance and considering the complexity of the accountability phenomenon, I adopted a case study approach to the PhD research, using a combination of policy document review, interviews (with managers, providers, community representatives and members of labour unions) and field observations, conducted iteratively over 16 months. The study was conducted in Gert Sibande District, one of the three South African health districts in Mpumalanga Province, with an in-depth focus on two of the seven sub-districts in the District. The research found that frontline health professionals have a clear understanding and conceptualisation of accountability in the SA health policy context, despite the reported inability to define accountability by health professionals described in the literature. Respondents referred to accountability as responsibility, answerability and virtue, and also argued for strengthening accountability mechanisms as critical to addressing maternal and child mortality. While deeming accountability as important, frontline professionals experienced the existing accountability mechanisms as ‘too much’ and indicated the desire for the streamlining of existing mechanisms. In this regard, the study documented numerous mechanisms at district level, almost all related to performance accountability in MNCH. These included a performance management system, quality assessment and accreditation processes, quarterly reviews, and death surveillance and response processes. The existence of multiple and overlapping accountability mechanisms engenders operational confusion and ‘accountability overload’ for frontline providers, encouraging empty bureaucratic compliance, while critical gaps – notably in community accountability – remain. In practice, at their best, some mechanisms operate following a reciprocal1 pathway of capacity building with resource provision (from management) and expectation for better performance (from providers). There were, however, contextual variations in the implementation and practice of the mechanisms between sub-district settings. The fieldwork observations and interviews were also able to document how formal institutionalised mechanisms are embedded within a complex system of informal accountability relationships and social norms (‘accountability ecosystem’) that enables or constrains the ability of frontline professionals to fulfil their tasks. In addition, using a Social Network Analysis approach, the research identified key actors and their involved network, which form the relational backdrop to the functioning of accountability mechanisms for MNCH. By revealing complex relationships and collaboration patterns among frontline health professionals, the study was able to show the multi-level action and multiple actors required to achieve MNCH goals.

Temperament is a determining factor of people's behaviour in everyday life. Does it show itself also online? Does introversial and extraversial behaviour in online networks differ? Some authors in their studies confirmed that introverts feel more secure in online networks and thus behave more like extraverts, similar effect have networks on behaviour of extraverts. Other authors proved empirically, that introversial users in virtual environment and online networks become more socially isolated and solitary. These studies were in principle conducted on American or Brittish colleges or universities, we have no similar research in Czech Republic. For this thesis, behaviour research and temperament identification questionnaire was filled up by 310 people of average age of 29 years, 2/3 were women, most of them live and work in Prague in media, marketing and public relations. Research results showed that 46% of users were present on Facebook for more than 2 years, extraverts actively participate in more networks, behaviour of introverts and extraverts on Facebook is really different as well as their way of using it, sometimes we can find very surprising details. First part of the thesis contains information about theoretical background - networks, social networks, online networks, ways and methods of...

Criminal recidivism rate has been increasing till 1990 in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is also on one of the leading positions in the prison population index list of countries. These two indicators should work as a red alert for us that our justice policies and the system of criminal prevention do not work effectively in the long run. We consider it important then that the increased attention should be paid to the whole system, the programs should be evaluated and the weak spots should be identified. Hence in this work we are looking at the topic form the structural-functional perspective. Using stakeholder analysis methods we identify the key actors of the field. The actors are divided into three basic sectors: governmental sector, market and the third sector. We then focus on the third sector and its' role in the penitentiary and post-release care with special attention to the relations and connections with the governmental sector. The weak spots and the examples of successful cooperation of the two sectors are explored with the tools of the social network analysis. The research results into the functional analysis of the role of the non-profit organizations in the field. Key findings of the research are formulated into the recommendations for stakeholder from both the third and the...

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The objective of this proposed research is to test whether interorganizational collaboration contributes to the ability of an organization to bounce back swiftly from disasters. The research questions are examined from the Institutional Collective Action (ICA) perspective. The general argument of this dissertation is that organizational resilience can be explained by interorganizational collaboration. The ICA framework, specifically, identifies two general network structures to explain strategies that can be adopted to minimize collaboration risks: bonding and bridging structures. This dissertation focuses on how governmental and nongovernmental organizations in South Korea collaborated. The data was collected from the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula in August of 2012, and January of 2013. The 2012 Typhoons devastated the area after the first data set was collected in August 2012, causing the loss of estimated US$ 730 million and 29 fatalities. Afterward, the second survey was administrated in January of 2013 to gauge respondents’ views on how organizations responded to the disasters. This dissertation consists of three essays. The first essay presents a brief overview and assessment of the current research on resilience. The second essay empirically tests the sources of organization resilience. The third essay examines the dynamic nature of interorganizational ties by employing stochastic actor-based models. The findings show how organizations prefer to not coordinate with other organizations even though this could reduce their strains during a disaster. The findings also suggest that organizations that operate in higher risk areas or participate in joint full-scale exercises before a disaster form interorganizational ties afterward.