Interorganizational Networks Research Articles

Unveiling the cooperation dynamics in the photovoltaic technologies’ development

Cooperation studies have supported the understanding of possible technological development strategies adopted in the Research and Development (R&D) departments. This article introduces an approach associating Social Network Analysis and Salton measure to expand the analysis of inter-organizational cooperation networks. This approach was used in 37,122 patent families of photovoltaic (PV) technologies applied between 1998 and 2017. The results showed that patent assignees prioritize their developments exclusively in their internal R&D areas. It has been observed that closed innovation is more prevalent than open innovation, given the lower proportion of technologies developed in collaboration. When there is cooperation, they prioritize cooperation relations between organizations of the same nationality. Small companies have greater cooperation intensity than large ones because they are more dependent on the innovation ecosystem and seek growth and support for their technological development by partnerships. The intensity of this cooperation is classified as incipient, but smaller organizations have a unilateral dependence on the relationship, which is a clear definition of dominance in cooperative relations. The results regarding the intensity of cooperation and the mapping of these networks did not indicate different actors who assumed more significant roles, whether in terms of constancy, centrality or intermediations of these relations. The findings can support strategic decisions on R&D, prioritization of investments, identification of potential partnerships (or competitors) for technological development. Additionally, they can contribute to the definition of public policies based on promoting the development and use of PV technologies.

Knowledge Management and Interorganizational Networks of the Wine Industry

Interorganizational networks have stood out in the agribusiness sector as arrangements in which people collaborate and cooperate to obtain external knowledge resources, and to drive innovation and sustainability. Therefore, knowledge management (KM), through its practices and processes, assists in the creation and sharing of knowledge collaboratively among network participants. The present study aims to analyze the knowledge processes adopted in interorganizational networks of the Portuguese wine supply chain. The research is applied in nature and adopts a qualitative approach through a descriptive exploratory study. The multiple case study method was used, carried out in three wine networks in the wine regions of Tagus and Alentejo in Portugal. Field data were collected using the interview technique, supported by a semi-structured script. The results indicate that the companies participating in the networks have common goals: to access external knowledge resources, reach international markets, develop product innovations, and create sustainable brands. However, the findings also allow us to consider that access to knowledge resources depends on the capacity of each company in the network. Thus, the mere formation of networks does not guarantee that the dissemination of knowledge will occur.

Interorganizational Network Portfolios and Social Media Adoption by Nonprofit Organizations

Interorganizational Network Portfolios and Social Media Adoption by Nonprofit Organizations

Oral histories document community mobilisation to participate in decision-making regarding a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility

ABSTRACT Colfax, Louisiana hosts a commercial hazardous waste thermal treatment (TT) facility, which treats fireworks, explosives, and military ordnances by open-burn/open-detonation one mile from the edge of the nearest community. Seventy-one percent of Colfax’s residents are Black, and forty-six percent live below poverty, indicating the community’s structural vulnerability. This community-based study originated at the behest of Colfax community members. We hypothesised that the close relationships among members of this enclave may have enhanced the community’s ability to mobilise in opposition to the TT facility. We conducted semi-structured oral history interviews with nineteen community members and examined the social and interorganisational networks used by the Colfax community to claim its role in decision-making regarding the TT facility after years of exclusion from this process. Interview transcripts were analysed through the lens of community capacity theory to gain insight into how interactions among community members about the environmental hazards led to social mobilisation and improved participation in the decision-making process using codes for communication, organisation, and outcome. Additionally, we reviewed Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality records for complaints about the facility to gauge public participation. One notable theme across several interviews was exclusion from the initial decision-making process related to the facility. However, interviewees noted a sustained effort was made among community members to educate themselves about the facility, organise a response through neighbour-to-neighbour contact, and take action by submitting formal complaints and participating in public hearings. Through the lens of environmental justice, this study illustrates an evolving condition of procedural justice.

Mechanisms for Employee Mobility Between Organizations: A Network Analysis of Faculty Turnover in Communication, 2013 to 2022

Organizations compete for scarce resources such as talent. The mobility of employees between organizations means that the inflow side acquires resources at the expense of the outflow side. This study understands employee turnover from one place to another as a mobility network where directed edges indicate migration flows between organizations. Using observational data on the turnover of tenure-line communication faculty in 129 U.S. universities from 2013 to 2022, this paper investigates the formation mechanisms of the interorganizational mobility network. The results show that the creation of migration flows is driven by transitive closure, but not by cyclic closure. Community cohesion is not a driving force of network formation. While low-prestige universities are more likely to be sources of faculty mobility than high-prestige universities, migration flows are commonly observed between organizations with similar levels of prestige. Additionally, the probability of faculty mobility between universities first decreases and then increases with their geographic distance.

Strong collaborative governance networks support effective Forest Stewardship Council-certified community-based forest management: Evidence from Southeast Tanzania

Research on community-based forest management indicates its conservation outcomes depend on local rule enforcement, extraction pressures, and community support. However, many community-based forest management projects, particularly in the Global South, also involve collaborative networks of non-state actors such as NGOs and private corporations. Many of these networks promote sustainability certification under programs like the Forest Stewardship Council. We report on analyses of longitudinal forest cover data constructed using satellite observations alongside inter-organizational collaborative governance network data constructed from archival sources, document analysis, and oral histories to assess how collaborative governance networks shape community-based forestry’s conservation effectiveness in eight villages in Kilwa District, Tanzania. Our findings indicate certified community-based forestry’s impacts on deforestation can depend on the composition and structure of collaborative governance networks. Using matched Cox proportional hazards models with geographic fixed effects, we find evidence that certified community-based forest management can stem forest loss as effectively as state-led forest management (in the form of National Forest Reserves). However, the characteristics of collaborative governance networks connecting organizations engaged in forest management in our study villages shape both which areas are selected into certified community-based forest management and villages’ overall deforestation rates. Specifically, we find that the more each village government’s organizational partners are connected to one another through bonding ties, and the more civil society organizations collaborate with each village government through bridging ties, the lower the village’s deforestation risk. More private sector organizations connected to village governments through bridging ties, however, are associated with higher deforestation risks. Our evidence highlights the importance of investments in inter-organizational networks for promoting sustainably certified community-based forest conservation.

Commodification and healthcare in the third sector in England: from gift to commodity—and back?

IMPACT This article suggests why a different approach may be required for commissioning services from third sector providers than from, say, corporate or public providers. English systems for commissioning third sector providers contain both commodified elements (for example formal procurement, provider competition, commissioner–provider separation) and collaborative, relational elements (for example long-term collaboration, reliance on inter-organizational networks). When the two elements conflicted, commissioners and third sector organizations tended to try to work around the commodified elements in order to preserve and develop the collaborative aspects, which suggests that, in practice, they find de-commodified, collaborative methods better adapted to the commissioning of third sector organizations.

Governance, cooperation and coordination in large inter-organisational project networks: a viable system perspective

PurposeThis study aims to further the understanding of multi-level analysis in inter-organisational relationships by investigating the interplay of governance, cooperation and coordination in inter-organisational projects (IOPs) on sub-system and project levels.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the Viable Systems Model as a framework to analyse inter-organisational project governance, cooperation and coordination by adopting a multiple-case study.FindingsThe findings illustrate how governance and coordination mechanisms exhibit a filter-down effect on lower sub-systems while cooperation influence is confined within each sub-system. While remarking the importance of specific sub-systems on the overall project performance, the interplay of governance, cooperation and coordination across sub-systems appears to be complex, with governance influencing cooperation and coordination, whereas cooperation and coordination influence each other with an incremental effect.Originality/valueThis study defines two propositions that explain how multiple levels of analysis (project and sub-systems) can support the governance of large inter-organisational projects. The authors elaborate theory on the interplay of inter-organisational project governance, cooperation and coordination.

A model of inter-organizational network formation

How do inter-organizational networks emerge? We address this question using an equilibrium framework where firms' decisions to form links with other firms are modeled as a strategic game. In this game, firms weigh the costs and benefits of establishing a relationship with other firms and form ties if their net payoffs are positive. We characterize the equilibrium networks as exponential random graphs (ERGM), and we estimate the firms' payoffs using a Bayesian approach. We apply the framework to a co-investment network of venture capital firms in the medical device industry, providing economic interpretations ERGM parameter estimates. We learn that firms rely on their joint partners (transitivity) and prefer to form ties with firms similar to themselves (homophily). These results hold after controlling for the interdependence among ties. Our structural approach allows us to simulate the effects of economic shocks or policy counterfactuals. We test two such policy shocks, namely, firm entry and regulatory change. We show that while entry of few firms does not have meaningful effects on the shape of the network, a regulatory shock of minimum capital requirements increases the co-investment network's density and clustering.

Network Interventions: Applying Network Science for Pragmatic Action in Public Administration and Policy

Abstract Public management and policy scholars have engaged in extensive development of theory and empirical study of networks and collaborative systems of governance. This scholarship has focused on understanding the mechanisms of network formation and the implications of network properties on individual and collective outcomes. Despite rich descriptive work and inferential analyses, little work has attempted to intervene in these systems. In this article, we develop the foundation for a new body of research in our field focused on network interventions. Network interventions are defined as the purposeful use of network data to identify strategies for accelerating behavior change, improving performance, and producing desirable outcomes (Valente, 2012). We extend network intervention strategies from the field of public health to public sector interorganizational and governance networks. Public sector actors have an interest in network interventions based on the fundamental pursuit of efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. Network interventions can increase the uptake of an organizational change among employees, improve the performance of a governance system, or promote the spread of a successful policy across jurisdictions. We provide scholars and practitioners with a useful way to conceptualize where, why, and how network interventions might be deployed in the pursuit of public value.

Identification and evaluation of collaborative relationships of internal project stakeholders: a social network analysis approach

PurposeThe present research is trying to construct the network of relationships between different department of an organization during the design and development of car engine. Analyzing the structure of the network, finding the patterns of collaborations, and determining the important departments are the main purposes of the present research.Design/methodology/approachImproving relationships during a project life is an effective way to enhance employee performance in project-oriented organizations. This paper examines the collaborative relationships between internal project stakeholders through social network analysis (SNA) in a project for the design and development of car engine. In the first step of the research, the network of internal stakeholders was studied based on collaboration in the common activities performed by the resources. Then, the network of correspondences between internal stakeholders was studied. Finally, the two networks were integrated into a single network.FindingsIn the integrated network, the “fuel and combustion department” had the largest degree centrality (i.e. highest collaboration with others). The “integration department” was found to have the highest closeness centrality (i.e. more rapid access to other nodes). Furthermore, the “procurement department” had the highest betweenness centrality (i.e. the most strategic department). Our results revealed the potential capabilities of SNA method for the project management in the vehicle industry.Originality/valueThe obtained results of the present research show us the value of applying SNA methods and concepts to analyze the inter-organizational network of the Project Stakeholders relationship.

The institutionalization process of governance in interorganizational networks: Case studies in virtual business communities

The institutionalization process of governance in interorganizational networks: Case studies in virtual business communities

Interorganizational Networks For Competitiveness in Tourism

The present research aims to compile and analyze the existing literature on the role of interorgani– zational networks in the competitiveness of tourist destinations. To this end, a systematic literature review methodology was used. In this study were analyzed 113 articles published between 2001 and 2020 to identify and classify the main topics in this knowledge domain. The finding results has enabled us to develop a framework that informs about the main subjects discussed, findings, and ambiguities. The results have also suggested an agenda for further investigation to the scientific community. Identifying the factors stimulating and limiting network collaboration can influence the elaboration of policies and decision–making by organizations.

A life-saving collaborative network: repairing ventilators in Brazil

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the formation of an inter-organizational collaboration network that made it possible to repair 2,516 mechanical respirators that were inoperative in Brazil during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was used in a single case study with semi-structured interviews. The interviewee selection process was non-probabilistic through snowball sampling.FindingsThe results suggest that society, through different social groups with their different roles, can organize itself quickly through the formation of collaborative networks, and this organizational configuration can be an alternative for facing crises where actions isolated would be insufficient or slow to urgently address complex situations.Practical implicationsThis paper aims to (1) demonstrate that society, through different social groups with their different roles, can organize itself quickly through the formation of collaborative networks; (2) favor the understanding and dynamics of the formation of a network; and (3) contribute to a possible replication of this initiative in future contexts.Originality/valueThe case portrays an unprecedented formation of a collaboration network involving more than 144 organizations that mobilized quickly in a complex context of a pandemic and that generated remarkable results through the reintroduction of equipment that were responsible for the preservation of thousands of lives during the year from 2020.

Organizational policies as a means of sharing sports values among athletes: the role of social capital

PurposeSome sports organizations have a strategic objective of promoting human and social development through sports. However, it can be challenging to ensure that these objectives, conveyed by the board, are fully internalized by the athletes. From the perspective of inter-organizational networks, this dissemination can occur through strategic alignment and diffusion of social capital. Therefore, the authors wanted to analyze if organizational policies from sports organizations are related to athletes' perception of social capital and strategic alignment.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a sequential mixed-method research. Firstly, a pilot study was conducted with two exploratory interviews with key informants from a sports organization, supported by documentary data from this organization. A thematic content analysis was carried out to identify relevant categories and subcategories to prepare a quantitative research instrument. In the second phase, a questionnaire was applied to 159 student-athletes from this organization. The collected data were analyzed by multiple linear regression.FindingsFrom the pilot study, a set of five elements of strategic alignment, and three elements of social capital in the sports organization context were provided. In the quantitative phase, the authors identified that social capital is related to athletes' perception of shared values internalization in a sports organization, but strategic systems were not.Practical implicationsSports managers could better promote internal policies if there is social capital among athletes rather than implementing top-down deployed communications.Social implicationsPolicymakers could better predict the effectiveness of a foment request by sports organizations considering not only strategic systems communication deployment but also the existence of social capital in a sports organization. It is a broader mechanism to understand the capacity of a sports organization in disseminating good values among their members.Originality/valueDifferent from traditional companies, in sports organizations, only social capital is related to the internalization of organizational policy by athletes rather than strategic alignment initiatives.

How Do Clusters Drive Firm Performance in the Regional Innovation System? A Causal Complexity Analysis in Chinese Strategic Emerging Industries

From a configurational perspective, this study aims to explain how clusters drive firm performance in the regional innovation system by considering the relationship between cluster and firm performance as causal complexity. Using an original dataset comprising 292 Chinese firms in strategic emerging industries (SEIs), this study employs a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate the conjunction effects of interorganizational dependence, network embeddedness, and ambidextrous innovation on cluster firms’ performance. The results showed that the fsQCA method uncovers causal combinations of these cluster factors that lead to high performance. These configurations imply two alternative pathways to enhance performance, where exploitative innovation is identified as the core causal condition.

Bridging the “consent gap”: mechanisms of legitimization in a cross-border megaproject

Abstract In the recent debate on megaprojects (MPs), greater attention is devoted to the functioning of the interorganizational and multiactor networks that are one of the most innovative features in recent years. The complexity of these structures brings out governability issues for an MP’s management. Mutual recognition and consent become elements capable of inaugurating more collaborative processes and practices to reduce organizational and management criticalities in MPs. This paper focuses on a neglected relational dimension, namely legitimacy. We argue that legitimacy is instead the central dimension that attributes effectiveness and capacity for action to the organizations involved. Legitimacy regulates the relationship between various organizations—and especially—between organizations and the public sphere. Institutionalist theory assigns a central role to legitimacy in the construction of social processes, defining it as a generalized form of social acceptance toward an actor, an idea, or a project. In this paper, we hypothesize that the legitimacy attributed and “held” by the stakeholders is a crucial element in countering three critical aspects of MPs, namely the uncertainty, complexity, and conflict acting on the construction of public consensus and the quality of relationships between the participating stakeholders. We verify our hypothesis by analyzing a cross-border MP, the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link between Germany and Denmark. The paper concentrates on the mechanisms with which stakeholders can acquire legitimacy using the Eriksen discursive legitimation scheme. These mechanisms are different (evidence-based, public participation, and legislators’ command) and produce different outcomes in terms of increasing or containing these three criticalities.

Tracing the affective journey of an interorganizational network: Positive and negative cycles of relational energy in a network space

While there is a lot of research on emotions at the small group level, we lack an understanding of the role of emotions at the large group level, including in interorganizational relationships. This study contributes to filling this important gap in the literature by studying the emotions in an interorganizational network longitudinally over a period of six years. The data reveal how the network offers a particular kind of space in which relational energy emerges, amplifies, can deplete, and can be re-set and turned around. The findings show how network emotions are recursively related to network outcomes, specifically the extent to which the common goal is achieved. This paper contributes to the growing literature on emotions in organization studies by shifting attention toward the important role of context, and it theorizes the interorganizational network as a particular kind of context where individuals interact in a semi-structured manner, with important implications for the interdependent relationship between individual emotions, relational energy, and network properties and outcomes.

THE RESEARCH ON AN INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL NETWORK STRUCTURE USING GRAPH THEORY TOOLS

In the context of the globalisation of society and the rapid spread of information and computer technologies, the achievement of the goals of individual economic structures is achieved through the formation of a new type of organisational resource by introducing the principles of the network effect and the system of network interaction. The network approach is not reduced to a separate disciplinary area, but claims to be universal and independent. to identify unambiguous attributes that collectively define network interaction. The characteristics of networks are legal autonomy of partners, close connection and mutual influence on the basis of partially formalised or trust-based relationships, establishment of medium- and long-term partnerships, decision-making based on a jointly developed system of internal rules and regulations, taking into account the behavioural patterns and interests of network partners. An inter-organisational network is defined by the links between a certain set of independent organisations (network structure) and their interactions within them (network processes). The structure of network ties and positioning in networks are considered as key properties of network agents. The author's approach proposes to focus not on the agents themselves, regardless of their appearance, motives, norms and values that guide their actions, but on the connections between them in the network, which are studied on the basis of graph theory.The article studies a structure of inter-organisational networks and their new structural features on the basis of graph theory mathematical approaches. Extremum parameters of graphs are used to estimate an optimum number of network members. The aim of the investigation is to apply the mathematical tools of a graph theory to study the basic concepts of a network structure, the justification of the optimal number of network participants and the practical implementation of a network concept. On the basis of theoretical studies using graph theory, proposals for the structure of the network can be formulated, which can be used to stimulate sectoral restructuring and change the technological platform of the national economy.

Assessing SDI Implementation Scenarios to Facilitate Emergency Mapping Operations in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic (DR) is a small island developing state (SIDS) highly exposed to disaster-risk phenomena, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. The Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) enables coordination and sharing of spatial information and services from multiple sources, while emergency mapping operations (EMO) help decision-makers build a common operational picture (COP) of impacted communities. Assessment of future scenarios for SDI implementation to meet emergency mapping goals requires the consideration of a wide range of stakeholders with different objectives. We make use of multi-actor multi-criteria analysis (MAMCA) in the case study of DR to evaluate government, private sector, emergency mapping team (EMT), and academia perspectives of three governance scenarios (Going-Concern, Increasing-Hierarchy, and Increasing-Network) for SDI implementation. Our findings suggest that the ‘Increasing Network’ scenario is the most suitable for SDI implementation. A well-coordinated inter-organizational network through a SDI should empower more stakeholders to participate in EMO. This work highlighted the increase of public-private partnerships as a key criterion to share costs and efforts to effectively support emergency mapping tasks. Findings reported herein could assist decision-makers in designing roadmaps to enhance SDI implementation in the DR. This knowledge will also support future studies/practices in other SIDS, which share similar natural hazards and development issues.