Antecedents of Performance Information Use in Collaborative Networks: Comparing Two Types of Performance Information

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore what factors lead to performance information use in collaborative networks, focusing on the effects of interaction patterns and relational characteristics among network participants. The strength of collaborative networks is that they provide a collaborative advantage in addressing complex public problems through accessing, mobilizing, and integrating a broad range of resources, information, and skills possessed by organizations with different capacities. However, collaborative networks do not necessarily provide efficient and effective public services due to coordination and cooperation problems. Since collaborative networks face performance problems, it is recognized that evaluating and monitoring collaborative networks’ performance are essential. To improve network performance, the information obtained by performance measurement or evaluation needs to be used. This study, using a case from a health and human service network, examines what factors explain performance information use among network participants in the collaborative network. Results obtained using an Exponential Random Graph Model show that (1) to promote performance information use in collaborative networks, the key is to enhance collaborative capacity such as interaction and positive relationship characteristics among network members; (2) performance information tend to be used by members who consider that using performance information is an appropriate behavior.