Network Level Of Analysis Research Articles

Organizational identity and network identification: relating within and beyond imaginary boundaries

This paper focuses on identity and identification on a network level of analysis. Perceptions of competition and cooperation in relationships arising from such an approach are explored, and the concept of network identification is introduced, with an explicit focus on boundaries that are activated, questioned and moved. At a network level of analysis it is less obvious who are competitors and who are not. In general the approach encourages an enhanced awareness of interdependence and embeddedness, which in turn promotes a more comprehensive sense of belonging and a new perception of goal compatibility. It is suggested that the focus on competition in the terminology of the contemporary business discourse need to be paired with a perception of relations as involving a sense of shared destiny.

Do Networks Really Work? A Framework for Evaluating Public‐Sector Organizational Networks

Although cooperative, interorganizational networks have become a common mechanism for delivery of public services, evaluating their effectiveness is extremely complex and has generally been neglected. To help resolve this problem, we discuss the evaluation of networks of community‐based, mostly publicly funded health, human service, and public welfare organizations. Consistent with pressures to perform effectively from a broad range of key stakeholders, we argue that networks must be evaluated at three levels of analysis: community, network, and organization/participant levels. While the three levels are related, each has its own set of effectiveness criteria that must be considered. The article offers a general discussion of network effectiveness, followed by arguments explaining effectiveness criteria and stakeholders at each level of analysis. Finally, the article examines how effectiveness at one level of network analysis may or may not match effectiveness criteria at another level and the extent to which integration across levels may be possible.

HIV risk networks and HIV transmission among injecting drug users

The objective of this study was to demonstrate how injecting drug users’ (IDUs) HIV risk networks affect their risk for infection with HIV and influence their HIV risk behaviors. Concepts utilized in a network approach were specified. These concepts included: (1) the distinction between risk networks (the people with or among whom IDUs—or others at risk of infection with HIV—engage in HIV risk behaviors) and social influence networks (the people who shape each others behavior), (2) the extent to which risk networks and social influence networks overlap, and (3) three levels of network analysis, i.e. the dyad, personal networks, and sociometric networks. The role of IDUs’ risk networks in the transmission of HIV and their influence on promoting and preventing HIV risk behaviors were illustrated by reviewing studies of IDUs in New York City as well as other locations. Conclusions indicate that the network approach is a developing area in research on the relationship between injecting drug use and HIV risk. This approach provides a basis for deepening our understanding of this relationship, and could increase our ability to prevent the further spread of HIV among IDUs as well as their sex partners.

DO NETWORKS REALLY WORK?: A FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING PUBLIC-SECTOR ORGANIZATIONAL NETWORKS.

Although cooperative, interorganizational networks have become a common mechanism for delivery of public services, evaluating their effectiveness is extremely complex and has generally been neglected. To help resolve this problem, we discuss the evaluation of networks of community-based, mostly publicly funded health, human service, and public welfare organizations. Consistent with pressures to perform effectively from a broad range of key stakeholders, we argue that networks must be evaluated at three levels of analysis: community, network, and organization/participant levels. While the three levels are related, each has its own set of effectiveness criteria that must be considered. The article offers a general discussion of network effectiveness, followed by arguments explaining effectiveness criteria and stakeholders at each level of analysis. Finally, the article examines how effectiveness at one level of network analysis may or may not match effectiveness criteria at another level and the extent to which integration across levels may be possible.