The Behavioral Dimension of Governing Interorganizational Goal-Directed Networks--Managing the Unity-Diversity Tension

Abstract

Network management research documents how network members engage in activities to advance their own goals. However, this literature offers little insight into the nature of work that aims to advance the goals of the network as a "whole." By examining the behavioral dimension of network governance, this article identifies a specific tension that network leaders address to effectively govern networks: although unity and diversity are essential to network performance, each makes contradictory demands which require attention. Findings from four case studies of immigrant networks in the United States point to three activities representing mechanisms that staff of network administrative organizations use to address this (network level) managerial tension. The study proposes that unity versus diversity represents a distinct challenge to the governance of networks that requires strategic action at the whole-network level and merits further study. 跨组织间目标导向性关系网络的行为维度:如何管理多样性和整体性的矛盾 摘要 关系网络管理 (Network Management)的研究记录了网络成员怎样积极参与活动以推进他们的个人目标。但是,此类研究文献未能解释网络成员共有的整体性目标如何(通过管理)实现。本文着眼于关系网络治理 (Network Governance) 的行为维度, 研究管理者在有效治理网络时需要解决的一项冲突:整体性(unity) 和多样性 (diversity) 均有助于提高网络的实效性, 但是两者之间可能产生此消彼长的诉求。整体性和多样性之间的矛盾关系值得进一步的研究和关注。我们研究了美国移民网络的四个案例,并归纳了网络治理中三种常用的解决整体性和多样性之间矛盾的管理机制。本研究表明, 调和整体性和多样性之间的矛盾是关系网络治理的一项棘手问题。有效解决这一问题需要网络整体层面的战略规划。此领域还有待更多的研究。