Network Theory in the Public Sector ─ Building New Theoretical Frameworks

Networks have been described in terms of metaphors, governance arrangements and structural or institutional arrangements. These different perspectives of networks come out of a variety of disciplines, including political science, public administration, urban affairs, social welfare, public management and organizational/sociological research. This wealth of research, while contributing to a deeper understanding of networks, presents a dilemma which is addressed by this book. That is the question of whether there is a theory of public networks that informs networks in their various forms, and is there a need for a new theory of networks? More importantly, is network research still relevant to practice? Does network theory improve the process of governance? Are different terms and/or approaches actually the same or different? What do these different approaches mean to theory?

This book deeply explores and integrates existing network theory and related theories from a number of perspectives, levels and jurisdictions to develop a framework to guide network design, governance and management. The book focuses on the important issue of network performance, looking at networks as bounded and consciously arranged; the actors who participate in them design the relationships among a bounded set of individual organizations to purse common objectives. Finally, the chapters tease out the variety of governance modes or regimes that intersect with network governance. This book offers a comprehensive, integrative, interdisciplinary approach that enables specialists, practitioners and administrators across a wide array of interests and fields to formulate and work on problems using a common language, analytical framework and theoretical basis.

Robyn Keast is a professor in the Southern Cross University Business School. Her research is focused on networked arrangements and collaborative practices within and across sectors. She recently co-authored Negotiating the Business Environment: Theory and Practice for all Governance Styles and is working on Social Procurement and New Public Governance, Routledge as well as the development of several network tools for service practitioners.

Myrna P. Mandell is emeritus professor, California State University and Adjunct Professor Southern Cross University, Australia. Her work includes articles, books and chapters on a number of different facets of networks, including: how to organize and manage networks, performance measures for networks, and leadership in networks. She has also done workshops, presentations and projects as a visiting professor internationally and is also the co-author of a number of publications on collaboration through networks specifically for practitioners in the public and non-profit sectors.