A system for analyzing a network including a plurality of nodes associated and/or connected together by links. The system includes a processor coupled to a data memory. The processor is configured to access a first representation of the network and associated link weight measures w in the memory. Moreover, the system is configured to provide node values for the nodes and determine from the node values corresponding slope measures for links existing between the nodes, the slope measures being computed from a function of differences in node values and from the weight measures w for the links, the weight measures w being used for scaling the function of differences in nodes values; to select for at least some of the nodes one or more steepest ascent links having one or more greatest positive slope measures; and to generate a second representation corresponding to a steepest ascent graph of the network derived from information included in the steepest ascent links.