Do Collaborative Groups Enhance Interorganizational Networks?

Abstract

Collaborative governance and organizational networks are popular and well-documented topics, but the relationship between them is not always clear. This article examines the extent to which publicly sponsored collaborative groups are associated with network ties between individual organizations. It does so by applying exponential random graph models to model how co-membership and co-participation in a publicly sponsored collaborative group is associated with the likelihood of two organizations engaging directly in three types of network ties: consultation, planning, or management. Our data come from a member survey of 57 collaborative groups that involve independent public, nonprofit, and private organizations in collective efforts to restore marine areas and freshwater ecosystems. We find that the probability of observing a network tie between two organizations increases with the extent to which both organizations participate in the same collaborative group, but that the association diminishes as the number of groups to which they belong increases. The association is strongest for organizations that report that participation in a collaborative group has increased their access to information and resources and their awareness of other organizations. Given that public agencies often use collaborative groups as a means to foster relationships between organizations in a policy network, it is important to know whether the initiation and sponsorship of collaborative groups is associated with the formation of interorganizational network ties.