Proposed SNA Project: Connections amongst current Fletcher cohort

Background

The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy markets itself as a training ground for future leaders in the public, private, and NGO sectors. The unique advantage of Fletcher – the marketing suggests - is its ability to identify potential leaders and equip them with the skills and connections to self-actualize. According to its literature, “Connections made at Fletcher impact the academic, personal and professional lives of our alumni over the course of a lifetime”, noting that it is distinct amongst its peer institutions for its “collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach to identifying and illuminating those connections.”

Objective

The Offices of Career Services and Alumni Relations have alumni data suggesting that the institution is successful in training managers in government, business and non-profits. However, I’m curious about the experience of students while at Fletcher – how can students use their limited time in graduate school to best impact their academic, personal and professional lives? The purpose of this study is to provide the administration strategic guidance as they review Fletcher’s academics and programs to ensure alignment with the School’s mission and that the students’ needs are being met. The analysis will be of interest to students, as well, as it will suggest whether students are best leveraging their peer networks.

Research Questions

Does the student body represent the diversity that Fletcher supposedly embodies, including student with multi-sectorial backgrounds and strategic, cross-sector networks? And are these ties being made at Fletcher, itself? Based on my own observational data, the student body is smart, interesting and fun, and undoubtedly enriches my life. Are we successful, however, in engaging each other to help fulfill our goals?

Methodology

In collaboration with the Fletcher administration, Office of Career Services, and Student Council representation, I will design and conduct a qualitative survey.

Possible questions include:

1.     What was your professional experience prior to Fletcher?

·      Organization(s)

·      Sector(s)

·      Title(s)

·      Location(s)

·      Skills/responsibilities

·      Do you know anyone that wants to hold a position at your previous organization(s)?

2.     What is your ideal position after graduating from Fletcher?

·      Organization(s)

·      Sector(s)

·      Title(s)

·      Location(s)

·      Skills/responsibilities of desired position(s)

·      Do you know anyone at Fletcher that held a position at your desired organization(s)?

3.     Interviewee background

·      Degree

·      Year

·      Fields of Study (if applicable)

·      Have you interests changed since matriculation? (i.e. fields of study, desired org/sector/location, etc.)

·      Student club(s)

·      Country of citizenship

·      Regional interest

Naturally, the list is preliminary and not exhaustive. A limitation of the survey will be sampling. Ideally, we’d have 100% compliance amongst the student body, but this expectation is unrealistic. I’ve initiated discussions and believe I will have institutional support to encourage uptake.

Analysis

From the data collected from the aforementioned survey, we’ll be able to analyze whether students with specific career goals are connecting with students with relevant backgrounds.  Additional questions that the data will illuminate (and potentially provide directional answers to) include: How big of “career changes” do students hope to make post-Fletcher? Are there particular sectors that are over or under represented (particularly in relation to Fletcher’s faculty and/or programs)? Does the functional skill training implicit in a Fletcher education and across the particular fields of study align with the desired employee outcomes?

Next Steps

I welcome comments, advice, and constructive criticism – both regarding the scope of the project and the particular way that I’m executing it. I want the deliverable to be of interest to the Fletcher community, which includes many readers of this blog. In the Fletcher (and social network) spirit, I believe in the wisdom of crowds.

I should also mention that I have the good fortune of working on this project with two esteemed colleagues, Gustavo & Michael.