Interorganizational Networks at the Network Level: A Review of the Empirical Literature on Whole Networks

Abstract

This article reviews and discusses the empirical literature on interorganizational networks at the network level of analysis, or what is sometimes referred to as “whole” networks. An overview of the distinction between egocentric and network-level research is first introduced. Then, a review of the modest literature on whole networks is undertaken, along with a summary table outlining the main findings based on a thorough literature search. Finally, the authors offer a discussion concerning what future directions might be taken by researchers hoping to expand this important, but understudied, topic.

Networks in Public Administration: Current scholarship in review

“…In order to address this lack of coherence, scholars have regularly made efforts to organize this literature either by offering analytical frameworks (Agranoff and McGuire, 1998;Klijn, 1996; or by extensive literature reviews (Berry et al, 2004;Isett et al, 2011;Provan et al, 2007;Robinson, 2006). We go beyond the previous research by examining a representative set of articles in public administration to refine a research taxonomy that sorts publications into coherent clusters based upon the outcomes explained in the studies.…”

“…The Provan and Milward school emphasizes the use of collaborative management practices necessary for the overall network performance as measured by efficiency (Huang and Provan, 2007;Isett and Provan, 2005;Provan et al, 2002Provan et al, , 2007. It also highlights the need for hybrid forms of organizing and collaborating that emerged between hierarchy and market relationships: the collaborative network (Powell, 1990).…”

The Network Governance of Crisis Response: Case Studies of Incident Command Systems

“…What are implications for network theory more broadly? The particular history and nature of the ICS also makes it a source of unusual insight for issues that network theorists have identified as important (Provan and Kenis 2008;Provan, Fish, and Sydow 2007). Provan and Kenis (2008) note that there has been little research on how network governance forms evolve, but hypothesize that the evolution of such forms will follow a functional logic, with change prompted by the search for greater effectiveness.…”

Análise de redes como ferramenta de gestão para empreendimentos interorganizacionais

“…This was a paradigm shift in the orientation of business due to the need of organizations to conform to the interconnected and interdependent market model (Verschoore & Balestrin, 2008). It consists of multiple entities that are organized in a nonhierarchical manner, ensuring the autonomy of each agent network, which are interconnected by different linking forms, usually formally, to the achievement of common objectives (Provan et al, 2007).…”

“…Governance in the networks determines how the relationships between the organizations occur, the rules of reciprocity, forms of contracting and delimitation of the powers of network managers. Although a cooperative action can generate strategic advantages, the network may also fail and so in order to mitigate the risks of failure, it is necessary to design governance policy that ensures the internal and external legitimacy of the network since its formation (Provan et al, 2007).…”