Network Governance Research Articles

Sustainability Leadership in Saudi Non-profit Organizations: A Qualitative Insight Governance

Leadership in Saudi Arabia is one of the major objectives of Vision 2030, which is aimed at developing the country’s private, public and nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Leadership therefore needs to incorporate key issues that are emerging in the context of preparing necessary skills to lead such organizations in the future. This research provides qualitative insights into leadership practice by measuring the impacts on achieving sustainability leadership by gaining a full understanding of the processes nonprofit sector leaders use to encourage sustainability and change in their organizations. Encouraging sustainability requires specific competencies, and strong leadership is critical to the process of ensuring that governance becomes sustainable. In this study a qualitative methodology was designed, and fifteen Executive directors CEOs from NPOs took part in semi-structured interviews as well as one focus group containing six professionals from non-profit corporate sectors including education, health, environmental clubs, foundations and human resources. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse critical elements that governed individuals’ ability to contribute to institutional results. The findings demonstrated eight areas of results-based functions and activities of sustainable nonprofit leadership to identify insights into leadership. These are governance arrangements, leadership as a dynamic role, teamwork empowerment, strategy and procedure processes, control and governance resources, collaboration and network relationships, encouraging social investment, and social value results. The findings suggest that leaders of various NPOs have to overcome external and internal challenges effectively in order to succeed in their mission focusing on financial and social purposes. Exploring the nature of sustainability leadership competencies in Saudi NPOs will result in learning, innovation and change in terms of outcomes by helping leaders to add social value as a core factor of their mission.

Exploring Business Environment Policy Changes in China Using Quantitative Text Analysis

A conducive business environment is crucial for establishing a sustainable market economy. This paper aims to quantitatively analyze the evolution of China’s business environment policy, offering valuable insights for future optimization. Focusing on 1335 national-level business environment policies from 2006 to 2023, this study employed a social network analysis (SNA) and the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model to investigate policy changes in terms of the issuing rhythm, collaborating departments, and policy attention. The findings reveal: (1) China has established a mature policy system for its business environment, with both an increasing number and improving impact of related policies. (2) A governance network of the business environment has gradually formed, with the participation of differentiated departments and the domination of one central unit, ensuring efficient collaboration and clear instruction. (3) The attention of the business environment policy has shifted from attracting foreign investment and developing the industrial chain to simplifying bureaucratic approval procedures, smoothing trade circulation, and ensuring legal reliability. This paper’s results serve as an empirical contribution to the field of business environment policy research.

Governance network externality: Exploring systemic risk generation mechanisms

We show three potential stages in transforming corporate debt default risk to systemic risk in an interlocking directorate network: network contagion of corporate debt default risk, network transformation, and network cascade of systemic risk. In addition, based on the arguments of ‘too connected to fail’ and ‘too big to fail’ in the scope of systemic risk, nodes with higher network connectivity and larger asset scale can significantly improve the efficiency of risk contagion, transformation and cascade in the network. Finally, a significant risk spillover effect exists between the real and financial sectors. From the perspective of corporate internal governance, we confirm that corporate ‘governance connections’ represented by the director network are crucial in transforming micro corporate risks to macro systemic risks and analyzes the whole process of systemic financial risks from endogenous outbreak to diffusion and finally accumulation and outbreak.

Трансправительственное сетевое управление и соконкуренция в сфере управления космическим пространством в Азиатском регионе

With the facilitation of globalization and technological advancements, the growing complexity of global issues has expanded the spatiotemporal scope of their impact. In international relations, sub-units beneath the primary actors – states – have emerged as critical actors with a demand for effective and real-time responses to global affairs. Transgovernmental network governance, operating by the sub-units in a decentralized and centrifugal architecture, has emerged as a diverse and flexible governance model that transcends interstate interactions. Simultaneously, international regimes have expanded based on small-scale cooperation. When niches exist in specific issue areas, major powers have initiated the construction of transgovernmental network governance, positioning themselves as pivotal actors. In the realm of space governance in Asia, China and Japan have each established transgovernmental network governance mechanisms promoting capacity building and cooperation centred around themselves – the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). Case studies of the aforementioned organizations further reveal that when plural transgovernmental networks operate within the same issue area, the governance landscape takes on a derived form of coexistence between competition and cooperation, which is the transgovernmental network governance of “co-competition.” Across multiple analytical levels, such characteristics indicate a flexible space of proliferation, expansion, and transformation

Non-profit administrative advocacy: anti-violence non-profit organisations and their relations with state agencies in Russia

Research on non-profit organisations’ (NPOs’) administrative advocacy suggests that while restrictive regulatory legislation hinders their activities, ambiguous state policy on particular social issues provides opportunities to advance their agenda. To better understand how non-profits conduct their administrative advocacy in a context characterised by both restrictive regulatory legislation and state policy ambiguity, this article examines Russian NPOs that are dealing with the contested issue of domestic violence. Drawing on network governance theory, the study investigates how these organisations navigated this complex terrain of restrictions and opportunities. It finds that anti-violence NPOs employed collaborative tactics to engage staff of state agencies who directly interact with citizens, while facing the risk of state-sanctioned repressions due to the potential classification of their work as political. By considering a case of administrative advocacy in a contentious policy field, this article argues for the need to account for the broader political context when researching non-profit advocacy.

The state of sustainable and disaster-resilient infrastructure in Indonesia

This paper discusses the paradigm shift in the way we think about disaster resilience and sustainability in the context of infrastructure, particularly in lower-income and disaster-prone countries like Indonesia. We highlight the importance of resilience as a critical component of sustainability, as it improves the agility and flexibility of infrastructure against future climate-related and other hazards. We discuss the potential trade-offs between disaster-resilient infrastructure and sustainable infrastructure and suggest that decision-makers can use a comprehensive approach that considers the overlap between the physical environment, social dynamics, metabolic flows, and governance networks to address these challenges. To obtain research objectives, a combination of three methods was used, namely policy analysis, case study, and comparative approach. This combination is to get a holistic picture of Indonesia’s conditions. This paper also presents several approaches that can be used to prioritize both resilience and sustainability in infrastructure projects.

The Interactive Relationship Between Government Information Disclosure and Network Governance: A Case Study of Service-Oriented Government

The Interactive Relationship Between Government Information Disclosure and Network Governance: A Case Study of Service-Oriented Government

Industrial clusters as a vehicle for circular economy transition: A case study of networks in four industrial clusters in Zimbabwe

Multiple stakeholder partnerships are required to attain a Circular Economy (CE). Circularity can be achieved through industrial clusters in geographical proximity to each other. This research aims to assess the effects of industrial clustering on the adoption of CE in Zimbabwe (Workington, Southerton, Willowvale and Stapleford) in order to develop strategies for strengthening the impact of collaboration on CE practices in industry. The Workington and Southerton clusters were assessed as a joint cluster due to regular joint programming, whereas Willowvale and Stapleford were assessed separately. Interviews, document reviews and site visits were undertaken at selected members within the industrial clusters to understand some CE initiatives being carried out. A waste auditing programme was evaluated, resulting in ecological and economic benefits. Whilst many organisations were located in clusters, not all of them participated in CE activities. The Workington-Southerton cluster consisted of twenty-five (25) active members mainly dominated by private sector organisations in the manufacturing sector whilst Willowvale cluster had four (4) active members and Stapleford had nine (9) active members from industry and community network at the time of assessment. The main types of industries included food and beverages, fertiliser, metal fabrication, cable manufacturing, seed processing. Engineering, transport and bone char production. Collaboration based on geographical proximity allowed the organisations to undertake training, capacity building, workshops and industrial symbiosis. Implementation of the Industrial Waste Auditing Project (IWAP) by the networks, facilitated adoption of CE measures and presented an opportunity of improved waste recycling. It is concluded that geographical proximity can be used as an opportunity to facilitate attainment of a Circular Economy, but on its own is not a determinant of network success. Deeper issues of legal status, governance, value adding activities and financial viability - determine the ultimate impact of industrial clusters. We conclude that due to geographical proximity, there are opportunities of promoting industrial symbiosis. However, these opportunities need financing, technical capacity, governance and external support. Theoretical contributions of the research relate to the need for hybrid financing models to support CE activities and governance frameworks that provide oversight on industrial clusters. Further theoretical contributions relate to the new forms association beyond idiosyncratic organisations and advancing the need for measurable effects of collaboration using hybrid financing. Our theoretical contributions reveal new insights in governance and ownership of networks, especially how this can affect the delivery of CE activities.

The Perceived Role of Non-Elected Actors in Community Power Structure in Poland: Results of a Survey Experiment

Administrative decisions can be influenced not only by policies formulated by elected representatives but also by various external actors. From classic elitist and pluralist theories of community power to urban regime and network governance concepts, academic studies tell us that several institutional and individual actors with no electoral democratic legitimacy may have a significant impact on local government decision-making. In our paper, we ask the question who they are in contemporary Polish cities. Are there any systematic regularities in this respect concerning e.g. how they differ depending on the size of the local community? In this paper we look at the phenomenon through the lens of citizens’ perception of the influence on important administrative decisions made in local governments. In this research, we also check whether the style of local political leadership perceived by citizens is reflected in their expectations toward the propensity of local authorities to consider the opinions. Data is collected through a survey conducted on a representative sample of 2,000 Polish citizens who were asked about their perception of the impact of various business and societal actors. The study uses the survey experiment method in which various formulations of the question are randomly assigned to individual respondents, which allows us to measure the perceived influence of individual types of actors. Referring to the recent debate on the limitation of the applicability of regime theory to large cities only, we place a special attention to the impact of city size on the role of big and small businesses as well as various societal organizations.

Beyond Collaboration: A Network Analysis of Local Stances and Global Frameworks in the Collective Design of the City

The research observes practices of collective city-making beyond the participatory framework of institutional urban governance. In particular, it looks at how grassroots organizations in Bologna are able to produce a dual movement between the local and the global, mutually informing global movements and local practices oriented toward the sustainable growth of cities. The first section introduces the theoretical framework, based on participatory governance, urban commons and grassroots networks; it presents the methodology in the second section, introducing the criteria for the dataset and the network analysis consisting of local and global nodes within the city of Bologna; it then presents the results of the analysis, discusses them and draws the conclusions in the final section.

Theoretical Logic and Implementation Path of Comprehensive Land Consolidation for Promoting Common Prosperity: A Case Study of Ningbo City

Eliminating poverty and achieving social justice are global concerns. China has focused on common prosperity. Comprehensive land consolidation is a potential policy tool that can contribute to common prosperity, but its effectiveness and implementation methods are yet to be verified and discussed. Therefore, we construct an analytical framework to understand how comprehensive land consolidation promotes common prosperity. The pilot area for comprehensive land consolidation in Ningbo City is used as a qualitative case study. The research results indicate that comprehensive land consolidation focuses on development and sharing to promote high-quality socio-economic development, social fairness, and justice. The paths for achieving development included the following: (1) a network governance structure consisting of multiple entities to enhance land governance; (2) various consolidation activities were conducted at the town scale to optimize the functionality and spatial pattern of public spaces; and (3) enabling the flow of urban and rural factors for improved resource allocation efficiency and providing an impetus for industrial development. The paths for achieving sharing included clarifying collective land ownership and promoting land transactions to provide diverse land values and ensure a shared distribution. This research provides new insights applicable to other Chinese cities and numerous developing countries engaged in land consolidation to address social distribution issues.

Prefigurative politics in action research for just cycling futures

ABSTRACT The paper proposes that action research, not as a predefined set of methods but rather as a mode of research, should be considered a key asset in creating transformative knowledge on just cycling futures. I explain, firstly, why action-oriented, experimental, and participatory research should deploy the concept of prefigurative politics – the performing of not-yet cycling futures here and now – as a theoretical, methodological and practical resource to counter hegemonic, oppressive, essentialist and authoritarian mobility rationalities. Second, I argue why prefigurative action research is most applicable when involving diverse actors across cycling governance networks into a democratic social learning process. These arguments are developed by synthesising literatures from social movement studies and mobility and transport justice, and by providing examples of four social cycling innovations among a population often marginalised from transport policy and planning – children and young people. In conclusion, the paper proposes a model for conducting prefigurative action research on cycling.

The Disaster Profile of Pakistan & Its Management Strategies

Natural Disaster is a harsh truth from which nobody can escape and Pakistan has been generally powerless against natural disasters by its novel geo-climatic conditions. Floods, cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes, and landslides have been an intermittent peculiarity. Among these floods, earthquakes, and droughts risk are very high. These disasters undermine a huge number of lives and cause enormous scale financial, framework, horticulture, and productivity losses that genuinely block Pakistan's overall development. To limit the harm brought about by disasters, different endeavors have been taken by the government, society, NGOs, and worldwide networks. Disaster management possesses a significant spot in this country's policy framework. The research paper covered the Disaster profile of Pakistan and the Disaster management system in Pakistan in subtleties and concluded with Suggestions.

Collaboration and engagement with decision-makers are needed to reduce evidence complacency in wildlife management.

There exists an extensive, diverse, and robust evidence base to support complex decisions that address the planetary biodiversity crisis. However, it is generally not sought or used by environmental decision-makers, who instead draw on intuition, experience, or opinion to inform important decisions. Thus, there is a need to examine evidence exchange processes in wildlife management to understand the multiple inputs to decisions. Here, we adopt a novel approach, fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM), to examine perceptions of individuals from Indigenous and Western governments on the reliability of evidence which may influence freshwater fisheries management decisions in British Columbia, Canada. We facilitated four FCM workshops participants representing Indigenous or Western regulatory/governance groups of fisheries managers. Our results show that flows of evidence to decision-makers occur within a relatively closed governance network, constrained to the few well-connected decision-making organizations (i.e., wildlife management agencies) and their close partners. This implies that increased collaboration (i.e., knowledge co-production) and engagement (i.e., knowledge brokerage) with wildlife managers and decision-makers are needed to produce actionable evidence and increase evidence exchange.

Importance of Managerial Networking for Innovation in Governance Networks

Importance of Managerial Networking for Innovation in Governance Networks

How to Perceive National Governance Networks in the Global Commons of the Earth’s Surface: A Case Study of the Antarctic

The destiny of mankind is closely intertwined, and exploring new paths for the governance of the global commons of the earth’s surface (GCES) has become a worldwide topic. Thus, this paper attempts to carry out the following work by taking the Antarctic as an example: (1) Identify the characteristics of the governance subjects by using a literature review and the inductive analysis method. (2) Construct a network of responsive relationships among the governance subjects based on the evolutionary game approach. This study found the following: (1) A multi-subject participation in governance, i.e., with the Antarctic Treaty parties as the core, the seven major organizations as the main force, the United Nations as the support, enterprises as the emerging force, and other countries as the potential subjects. (2) Response-relational networks have high clustering coefficients and characteristic path lengths close to those of random networks, with significant small-world features of relational networks. (3) As important components of the benefit function, long-term benefits and benefit intensities together influence cooperative strategies for governance in the Antarctic. In the future, we should actively focus on long-term interests based on the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, improve the governance structure at the right time, and strive to build a robust globalization.

Spatial planning of China’s lower-tier cities: strategies, implementation, and consequences

ABSTRACT Because of the uneven distribution of territorial power and autonomy, cities in lower positions in China’s urban hierarchical system are typically disadvantageous in obtaining vital and timely political and economic resources. Applying the theoretical discourse of spatial selectivity in state space production, this study focuses on the territorial dimension of spatial strategies and investigates how local spatial selectivity strategies have unfolded in Bengbu and Chuzhou, two third-tier cities in Anhui Province. The research finds that while lower-tier cities endeavor to use spatial selectivity and advocate new administrative and economic spaces by making connections to higher-tier cities, their spatial strategies overlook insufficient interconnections with their peers. Territorial status categorization, spatial relational adjustment, and administrative boundary realignment may have adverse effects when the mismatch between their targeted places and proposed functions occurs. Institutional reconfigurations through rescaled government and multi-level and cross-regional governance network are not common in lower-tier city’s spatial strategies.

Bottom‐up dynamics in circular innovation systems: The perspective of circular start‐ups

AbstractThe concept of circular economy (CE) is proposed to lead humanity toward a sustainable future. Public authorities increasingly build on CE narratives. The progress of private sector actors is key to enable more circular resource flows. Still, the world falls far short from becoming circular and large‐scale implementation of CE in actual problem–solution spaces is scarce. This study sheds light into the external strategies of circular start‐ups (CSUs) in building an adequate socio‐institutional embedding for circular business models (CBMs) and puts the findings in the context of CE and sustainability transformations research. CSUs are a distinct group of CE‐oriented actors that build and implement CBMs wholistically and from scratch. Thereby, they can directly and indirectly contribute to the creation of circular innovation systems. This study defines the common CE mission of CSUs, sets it in context of respective socio‐political CE missions, and scrutinizes the roles that CSUs adopt to drive systemic CE implementation. We observe that CSUs’ strategic interventions go further than only novelty creation. This article proposes and elaborates on four roles that CSUs adopt: conveners, reinforcers, pioneers, and champions. The roles differ according to the CSU business models, stakeholders, the institutional elements that are addressed, as well as the directionalities that CSUs set. The findings are discussed considering the governance, policies, and strategic management of various directionalities in which CE innovation develops. It sheds light on inadequacies and limitations for bottom‐up CE innovation in existing norms and cognition, policy, and network governance.

A Model for Tax Evasion Prevention in Iran, Based on Preventive Network Governance Approach

A Model for Tax Evasion Prevention in Iran, Based on Preventive Network Governance Approach

Healthcare network governance and accountability shaped by social capital

ABSTRACT Drawing on concepts from social capital theory, we examine how governance of a mandated public sector hospital network is implemented and the challenges the implementation poses for accountability and governance. Adopting a whole network perspective, we conduct a case study of one mandated hospital network in Ireland. Based on fifty-five semi-structured interviews, we demonstrate the co-existence of two different governance models: (1) the espoused officially sanctioned Network Administrative Organisation governance model, and (2) the actual governance model in operation which was more similar to a lead-organisation model. We provide theoretical insight into how complex governance arrangements emerge through the management of network tensions to prioritise particular poles of the tensions. Further, we analyse why the espoused NAO model was unable to respond to the accountability and governance challenges that arose. We identify how pre-existing bonding social capital between the “centralised network broker” (the Network Administrative Organisation) and the hub hospital limited the potential for social capital to expand from a private to a public good that could benefit the network as a whole. Our findings illustrate accountability and governance challenges in a mandated network and provide important insights for hospital managers and policy-makers by bringing to the fore the “dark side” of social capital and its ability to fragment broader collectivities, such as networks, in the name of local, particularistic identities. We draw attention to the importance of monitoring social capital development during network governance implementation and to how opposing poles of network tensions are managed. HIGHLIGHTS Different governance models can co-exist within mandated networks. These complex governance arrangements emerge through the management of network tensions to prioritise particular poles of the tensions. Pre-existing bonding social capital limits the expansion of social capital from a private to a public good within the network.