Application of nominal integration of social actors into a network structure for forming objects of social management: the example of gerontoeducation institutions in the Russian Federation

The relevance of this article is substantiated by the widespread use of network forms of interaction in modern society and increasing impact of on various social processes. The tasks connected with management influence over objects of network organizations practices are increasingly encountered in social management practice. As a result, there is a rising scientific interest in research of specifics of social networks as objects of management, alongside an emerging objective need for developing methodology for managing these networks. One promising area of research is the exploration of opportunities for integrating social actors into an abstract network for further research in research and social management. The aim of this article is to establish the methodological foundations for integrating social subjects into a nominal network structure and to justify the applicability of this object for solving social management tasks. The main methods employed in this empirical research included surveys of participants in specialized educational projects for older adults and interviews with Russian experts in gerontoeducation institutions. The study of the mechanisms underlying the organization and functioning of domestic gerontoeducation institutions suggests that these communities can be interpreted as social networks for scientific and management tasks. The concepts presented in this article contribute to the theoretical foundations of the sociology of management by offering insights into the mechanisms that influence the functioning and development of social networks.