Network Theory in the Public Sector : Building New Theoretical Frameworks Paperback / softback

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.