Idea networking

Idea networking is a qualitative method of doing a cluster analysis of any collection of statements, developed by Mike Metcalfe at the University of South Australia.

The statements might be source from interviews, text, websites, focus groups, SWOT analysis or community consultation.

When named, these clusters provide emergent categories, meta themes, frames or concepts which represent, structure or sense-make the collection of statements.

In his book Notes on the Synthesis of Form, the pragmatist Christopher Alexander suggested networking the ideas of clients as means to identifying the major facets of an architectural design.

These may include due process, legal representation, hearing both sides, have norms or regulations for comparison.

Modern research extending Miller's Magic number 7 plus or minus 2, to idea handling, suggests a five-part classification is appropriate for humans.