Int. J. Collaborative Enterprise, Vol. 4, Nos. 1/2, 2014 17 Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Improving knowledge sharing in healthcare through social network analysis Elizabeth A. Cudney*, Steven M. Corns and Suzanna K. Long Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 600 W. 14th Street, Rolla, MO 65409, USA E-mail: cudney@mst.edu E-mail: cornss@mst.edu E-mail: longsuz@mst.edu *Corresponding author Abstract: Knowledge management systems (KMS) are critical to capture, retain, and communicate project results and knowledge of staff, prevent knowledge drain, and provide lessons learned type training. This research focuses on the development of a knowledge management system using social network analysis (SNA) to improve methods to organise and share knowledge for a large government healthcare organisation. A survey was employed to interview key players using the narrative interview protocol through focus groups formed from early adopters of process improvement methods to understand how stakeholders viewed and implemented changes to their work environment. Using these results, a Likert-style questionnaire was provided to all users. Social network mapping and analysis was performed relevant to basic network properties, characteristics of relations, and other relevant network features. The goal of this research is to identify key players, document how information is shared, recommend methods to sharing and retain knowledge, and measure the impact of the improvements. Keywords: healthcare; knowledge management; KMS; knowledge management systems; SNA; social network analysis. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Cudney, E.A., Corns, S.M. and Long, S.K. (2014) ‘Improving knowledge sharing in healthcare through social network analysis’, Int. J. Collaborative Enterprise, Vol. 4, Nos. 1/2, pp.17–33. Biographical notes: Elizabeth A. Cudney is an Associate Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She received her BS in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University, Masters in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from the University of Hartford, and her doctorate in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri–Rolla. In 2013, she was elected as an ASQ Fellow. In 2010, she was inducted into the International Academy for Quality. She received the 2008 ASQ A.V. Feigenbaum Medal and 2006 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award.