The process is as follows: listen to events emanating from entities organized in a network (relations between entities define networks) and subsequently apply methods from graph theory, linear algebra, algebraic topology etc. . to discover / understand what is happening .. and draw patterns for decision making

Dear Mitra,

a gatekeeper can be understood as a person occupying a strategic important role that allows for controlling information flows between otherwise unconnected other persons - such a person is sometimes also called a "broker". This idea is already laid out in Merton's writings about "Locals and Cosmopolitans" in his book Social Theory and Social Structure. There are several formal approaches to different broker roles, including gatekeepers (see Gould and Fernandez or my paper on "measuring the social capital of broker roles".

Best regards, Volker

This term refers to the control of information flowing in a given social network. For example, in an organization two departments work together. In fact, the person who connects the two teams is X- and he/she decides how the information flows and what is communicated to whom. A bit like in chinese wishperers.

I recommend Cross and Parker 2004