Network Administrative Organization Research Articles

The role of values in the interorganizational network response to wicked problems

Values are seen as important in both interorganizational networks and wicked problems. However, in both academia and practice the exact implications of these values remain unclear. In this article we examine the role of values in interorganizational networks dealing with wicked problems, by conducting a case study in a pregnancy and childbirth network. Our analysis identified both actor and network values, three value tensions among actors, and a variety of coping strategies to deal with these tensions. The findings indicate that value differentiation in networks should not be only seen as a problem, but also as an important ingredient for the achievement of network goals. Furthermore, our study revealed functional-structural and cognitive-cultural coping strategies to respond to value tensions among actors, applied by both the network administrative organization and the individual actors in the network. Lastly, we elaborate on the position and skill set of the network leader. We leverage these research results to formulate insights and recommendations for network practice.

Managing the performance of healthcare networks: a ‘dance’ between control and collaboration

ABSTRACT This qualitative case study examines how the tension between control and collaboration is managed in the relationship between a Network Administrative Organization (NAO) and the 40 inter-organizational service delivery networks it governs using a performance management system. We found that the relationship between the NAO and networks operated as a ‘dance’, with the NAO taking steps to collaborate with and control the networks. We identified three forms of network governance ambidexterity that characterize this dance – structural, goal, and behavioural – and propose a framework of their antecedents, stability, and influencing factors. Network governance ambidexterity may help explain network functioning and performance.

Network governance and effectiveness on renewable energy integration: A comparative case study on power transmission networks in the United States

This paper examines how network structure and coordinating mechanisms in the US power transmission system affect the integration of wind energy through comparative case studies. The two transmission network cases represent two major transmission network governance models in the US power sector. Using archival data from all network participants and interviews with key stakeholders, we find that a centralized transmission network coordinated by an independent network administrative organization (NAO) is more effective in integrating wind power than a less centralized structure. Particularly, the concentration of decision-making authorities is a more substantial determinant than the structural centrality of the core agency. The two cases also highlight that hierarchy, collaboration, and market mechanisms coexist in a transmission network to manage the tension between stability and flexibility. When the network operates in a turbulent environment with great uncertainties, different coordinating mechanisms complement each other to improve system resilience.

Resourcing Goal-directed Networks: Toward A Practice-based Perspective

AbstractThis paper proposes a practice-based perspective on how managers resource goal-directed networks in the public sector, especially those governed by a network administrative organization. While previous literature shows that network managers need to acquire and allocate resources in order to achieve network goals, little is known about specific resourcing practices and related challenges to resourcing goal-directed networks. To shed light on these issues, we outline a processual, multilevel, network-centric perspective that focuses on network resourcing practices and takes their interplay with network rules and goals into account. This paper shows that, to attain network goals, network managers need to mitigate developing tensions arising from the different interests of network members, external stakeholders, and the network itself, while navigating a trajectory of network resourcing. The paper contributes to the literature on public networks by examining potential sources of network-level resources; outlining basic resourcing practices of controlling, producing, reproducing, and transforming such resources; discussing multilevel tensions around network resourcing; and exploring trajectories of network resourcing. In addition, we propose avenues for empirical research on network resourcing.

Governance of inter-organizational systems: a longitudinal case study of Rotterdam’s Port Community System

An increasing use of inter-organizational systems, as Port Community System (PCS), can be observed in port collaborations. As multiple organizations often rely on PCS, even for business-critical processes, proper governance of these systems is crucial. This study aims to explain the governance of inter-organizational port collaborations using a lifecycles paradigm. The governance is explored using three points of view – i.e. governance mechanisms, governance aspects, and governance models – and by describing the actors’ roles in collaborations. A case study in the port of Rotterdam is analyzed to explain how these actors affect the governance models through the mechanisms to govern the aspects in each lifecycle stage. The port collaboration in Rotterdam has gone through three full governance lifecycles and has entered the fourth iteration after the set-up of Portbase. During the last two cycles, the collaboration has maintained its Network Administrative Organization governance model. This case study analysis of Rotterdam’s port collaboration provides an example of how a systematic approach could help to discuss and communicate the governance of inter-organizational port collaboration systems and gives some lessons learned for other collaborations.

Network governance forms in healthcare: empirical evidence from two Italian cancer networks

BackgroundThis study focuses on the application of Provan and Kenis’ modes of network governance to the specific field of public healthcare networks, extending the framework to an analysis of systems in which networks are involved. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze and compare the governance of two cancer networks in two Italian regions that underwent system reconfiguration processes due to reforms in the healthcare system.MethodsA qualitative study of two clinical networks in the Italian healthcare system was conducted. The sample for interviews included representatives of the regional administration (n = 4), network coordinators (n = 6), and general and clinical directors of health organizations involved in the two networks (n = 25). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews.ResultsOur study shows that healthcare system reforms have a limited impact on network governance structures. In fact, strong inertial tendencies characterize networks, especially network administrative organization models (NAO). Networks tend to find their own balance with respect to the trade-offs analyzed using a mix of formal and informal ties. Our study confirms the general validity of Provan and Kenis’ framework and shows how other specific factors and contingencies may affect the possibility that cancer networks find positive equilibria between competing needs of inclusivity and efficiency, internal and external legitimacy, and stability and flexibility. It also shows how networks react to external changes.ConclusionsOur study shows the importance of considering three factors and contingencies that may affect network effectiveness: a) the importance of looking at network governance modes not in isolation, but in relationship to the governance of regional systems; b) the influence of a specific network’s governance structure on the network’s ability to respond to tensions and to achieve its goals; and c) the need to take into account the role of professionals in network governance.

Between promise and performance: Science and technology policy implementation through network governance

AbstractThis research analyzes the effects of US science and technology policy on the technological performance of organizations in a global strategic alliance network. During the mid-1980s, the US semiconductor industry appeared to be collapsing. Industry leaders and policymakers moved to support and protect US firms by creating a program called Sematech. While many scholars regard Sematech as a success, how the program succeeded remains unclear. This study re-contextualizes Sematech as a network administrative organization which lowered cooperation costs and enhanced resource combination for innovation at the cutting edge. This study combines network analysis and longitudinal regression techniques to test the effects of public policy on organizational network position and technological performance in an unbalanced panel of semiconductor firms between 1986 and 2001. This research suggests that governments might achieve policy through inter-organizational innovations aimed at the development and administration of robust governance networks.

The Belgian Evidence-Based Practice Program: network governance to improve efficiency and effectiveness of evidence-based practice uptake.

In 2016, the Belgian Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health decided to set up a central governance structure for evidence-based practice (EBP). The underlying model, consisting of six EBP life cycle cells (prioritization, development, validation, dissemination, implementation and evaluation) and a bipolar governance layer was developed in 2017. Based on the characteristics of the Belgian EBP landscape, a network administrative organization was chosen to coordinate and facilitate the operational processes in the EBP life cycle and act as intermediate between the two forces: stakeholders and funders/policy makers. Scientific processes remain the responsibility of the EBP experts in the cells. As organizational change can result in resistance, building trust and consensus is a very important success factor for the setup of the network. The process is now in an advanced stage and in 2019 the EBP governance structure will be operationalized.

Configurations for Interorganizational Project Networks

Projects are becoming increasingly interorganizational; therefore, typically, the project management office (PMO) of a single corporation is neither capable of nor authorized to supplying all partners of a project network with services and knowledge. On the interorganizational level, a network administrative organization (NAO) may be founded providing similar services such as those provided by PMOs, but then to all network partners. This conceptual article seeks to integrate these streams of research by comparing the roles and tasks of PMOs and NAOs, as well as their organizational embeddedness. Thereupon, four modes of interplay between these organizational entities are developed and underpinned with exemplary configurations.

Health in All Policies (HiAP) governance: lessons from network governance

The Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach requires formal and sustained governance structures and mechanisms to ensure that the policies of various non-health sectors maximize positive and minimize negative impacts on population health. In this paper, we demonstrate the usefulness of a network perspective in understanding and contributing to the effectiveness of HiAP. We undertook an exploratory, qualitative case study of a HiAP structure in Iran, the Kerman province Council of Health and Food Security (CHFS) with diverse members from health and non-health sectors. We analyzed relevant policy texts and interviewed 32 policy actors involved in the CHFS. Data were analyzed using within-case analysis and constant comparative methodology. Our findings suggest that CHFS governance from a network perspective drew in practice on elements of two competing network governance modes: the network administrative organization (NAO) and the lead organization mode. Our results also show that a shift from a hierarchical and market-based mode of interaction to a network logic within CHFS has not yet taken place. In addition, CHFS suffers from large membership and an inability to address complex 'wicked problems', as well as low trust, legitimacy and goal consensus among its members. Drawing on other HiAP studies and commentaries, insights from organization network theory, and in-depth findings from our case study, we conclude that a NAO may be the most effective mode of governance for tackling complex social problems in HiAP structures. Since similar studies are limited, and our single case study may not be transferable across all contexts, we suggest that further research be undertaken to explore HiAP structures from a network perspective in different institutional and cultural settings. With increasing emphasis given to HiAP approaches in national and international health policy discourse, it is important that comparative knowledge about the effectiveness of HiAP governance arrangements be developed.

Network structure and collaborative innovation processes—A comparative analysis of two elderly service networks in Shanghai

SummaryHow does the structure of government‐funded service networks affect the process of service innovation? We have conducted a comparative analysis of the structure and processes of collaborative innovation of 2 government‐funded community‐based elderly service networks in Shanghai. We have found that in consistent with the literature, a network that has a network administrative organization structure is better able to manage the process of service innovation in a way that balances the need to achieve government policy goals on the one hand and the imperative to facilitate bottom‐up citizen participation on the other. Surprisingly, contrary to what prior studies have suggested, we have found that a network in which a lead organization plays a dominant role, despite its more centralized process of service innovation, is often able to deliver a variety of high‐quality and low‐cost services addressing citizens' needs. With the leadership provided by the network lead organization and its close affiliation with the street‐office government, the network has been able to solicit government support. Such a hierarchical yet responsive state‐society relation has emerged as a result of the coalescence of a corporatist state legacy and an increasing pressure for local governments to seek citizens' support in service delivery.

National cyber crisis management: Different European approaches

Cyber crises, as new forms of transboundary crises, pose serious risks to societies. This article investigates how different models of public–private partnerships shape cyber crisis management in four European countries: the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. Using Provan and Kenis's modes of network governance, an initial taxonomy of cyber governance structures is provided. The Netherlands have created a participant‐governed network, characterized by trust and equality. The Czech and Estonian models resemble a network administrative organization, with an enforcement role for their national cyber security centers. Denmark has adopted a lead‐agency model. The article concludes that countries face two binary choices when organizing cyber defense and crisis management. First, national computer emergency response teams/computer security incident response teams can be embedded inside or outside the intelligence community. Second, cyber capacity can be centralized in one unit or spread across different sectors. These decisions fundamentally shape information‐sharing arrangements and potential roles during cyber crises.

How to support the endurance of long‐term networks: The pivotal role of the network manager

This article focuses on interorganizational networks in an attempt to contribute to the research on network endurance. Specifically, we will focus on service delivery networks created to endure, and explore the impact on network endurance of some key variables, such as the configuration of the modes of network governance, the formalization of coordination mechanisms and the concentration of managerial skills in the network manager. Our results show that a Network Administrative Organization alone is not sufficient to enable network endurance. Having skilful network managers who can activate formalized coordination mechanisms is also important. Hence, skilful network managers seem to be pivotal for long‐term public networks, thanks to their ability to link network structures to network mechanisms and bring about network endurance.

Network governance of a multi-level, multi-sectoral sport event: Differences in coordinating ties and actors

To understand how partners within a large, multi-sectoral network coordinated amongst one another, this paper empirically determined stakeholders’ network capital vis-à-vis centrality by focusing on the relationships within the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. An embedded case study was built using 6382 pages of documents (e.g., meeting minutes, memos, newspaper articles, and annual reports) and 55 interviews, and analyzed using social network analysis. The results revealed actors used eight types of ties in their coordination efforts: collaboration, communication, coordinating bridge, instrumental, legal, regulatory, transactional, internal link, and external link. Also, highly centralized actors were context specific to each level of government, with the organizing committee and federal secretariat emerging as the most critical for coordination efforts. Findings empirically demonstrate the importance of the national/federal government to coordinate multi-sectoral sport event networks. Thus, sport event partners can consider structuring an event’s network administrative organization to fit their differing strategic goals.

Shaping the Evolution of the Information Flow: The Centralizing Mechanisms in the Evolution of the North American Tobacco Quitline Consortium

ABSTRACTThe research reported here is an analysis of the evolution of the relationships that comprise a single public health network, focusing especially on the position of the network administrative organization (Provan and Kenis 2008) in the flow of knowledge among a large number of organizations providing similar services. Our study examines the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC), a multi-sector network that spans the US and Canada and whose members provide telephone-based tobacco cessation services to anyone interested in quitting smoking. Data were collected using web-based surveys at three different points of time. Implications are discussed for network organizing, for both theory and practice, focusing especially on the importance of the network administrative organization in shaping the evolution of the whole network information flow.

Governance lifecycles of inter-organizational collaboration: A case study of the Port of Rotterdam

An increasing use of inter-organizational collaboration systems can be observed. As multiple organizations often rely on these systems, even for business-critical processes, proper governance of these systems is crucial. This study aims to explain governance of inter-organizational collaboration systems by describing roles in collaborations, governance lifecycles, governance models, and how these roles affect the governance model in the lifecycles. A case study in Port of Rotterdam is described. The port collaboration in Rotterdam has gone through one full governance lifecycle and has entered the second iteration after the set-up of Portbase. During both cycles, the collaboration has maintained its Network Administrative Organization governance model. The case study analysis of Rotterdam’s port community provides an example of how a systematic approach could help to discuss and communicate the governance of inter-organizational collaboration systems.

Small-Firm Networks and strategies for consolidation: evidence from the Brazilian context

Resumo Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo a analise das estrategias adotadas por redes de pequenas empresas (small-firm networks, SFNs) para chegar a consolidacao. Metodologia: Este estudo foi conduzido em duas etapas a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa. A primeira teve o objetivo de identificar SFNs consolidadas na regiao sul do Brasil. A segunda consistiu na analise de tres estudos de caso a fim de investigar que estrategias elas adotaram para chegar a consolidacao. Resultados: Os resultados mostram quatro estrategias implantadas pelas SFN para acelerar a consolidacao: adocao de uma organizacao administrativa para a rede; contratacao de gestores profissionais; portfolio de servicos que auxiliam os integrantes da rede, e cooperacao e fusao de SFNs. Contribuicoes: A analise das tres SFNs consolidadas trouxe um melhor entendimento do processo de desenvolvimento das redes e das estrategias adotadas para seu progresso.

Improving performance of long-term care networks at their initial stage: an empirical study of factors affecting results.

Until now very little research has been carried out on the performance of health and human services networks in evolution. In particular, previous studies mainly referred to "centrally governed services networks" in the US context. According to Provan and Kenis (2008), these networks are "lead organization-governed", and are different from the "participant-governed" model or the "network administrative organization (NAO)" solution. We focused our attention on the Apulia region care services networks (Italy). In the last few years, the governance of these networks has passed from the "participant-governed" model to the NAO approach. We examined how the integration mechanisms work in this type of networks, and if there were challenges to tackle in order to improve their overall performance. These networks were examined at their initial stage, exactly when their governance model moved to a more integrated solution. We collected survey data from 17 health and human services networks out of 45 (38%). The research is carried out by means of statistical methods (OLS). The analysis is cross sectional. The implementation of "rational/technocratic" factors is important but not sufficient to enhance collaboration. The integration at the "professional level" should be kept in mind. In particular, the role of network (case) managers is paramount. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

(Re)Defining the Disarticulated Municipality: Budget Accountability for Networked Governance

This study investigates the degree to which municipalities engaged in public management networks use their budget documents to report their contributions, whether the network provides the member municipalities with performance data, and how budgetary decisions regarding the network are made within the member organizations and the network administrative organization itself. An analysis of network and member budget documents and a survey of network members shed light on the complex accountability issues and the role of budget documents and the budgeting process to support and enhance democratic accountability in a network context—which contribute to building collaborative governance regime theory.

Coevolution of Information Sharing and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices Among North American Tobacco Cessation Quitlines.

We examined the coevolution of information sharing and implementation of evidence-based practices among US and Canadian tobacco cessation quitlines within the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC). Web-based surveys were used to collect data from key respondents representing each of 74 participating funders of NAQC quitlines during the summer and fall of 2009, 2010, and 2011. We used stochastic actor-based models to estimate changes in information sharing and practice implementation in the NAQC network. Funders were more likely to share information within their own country and with funders that contracted with the same service provider. Funders contracting with larger service providers shared less information but implemented significantly more practices. Funders connected to larger numbers of tobacco control researchers more often received information from other funders. Intensity of ties to the NAQC network administrative organization did not influence funders' decisions to share information or implement practices. Our findings show the importance of monitoring the NAQC network over time. We recommend increased cross-border information sharing and sharing of information between funders contracting with different and smaller service providers.