Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide methodological guidelines and examples of how social network analysis (SNA) can be used in public management network research. SNA describes network structures formed by the patterns of relationships between different actors. Exchange relationships between government, market and society, which conceptualize public sector policies and goals, can be analyzed as a means to highlight underlying governance structures, coordination and management mechanisms, organizational capabilities and strategies of government activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from key aspects and concepts of network management, structuring, and modes of governance, research strategies are presented for the analysis of public networks through an illustrative study of relational patterns between providers and receivers of training in the public sector.

Findings

SNA highlights prevalent modes of organizing – bureaucratic, market or collaborative (networked) – key actors, roles and strategies that influence network structure, and collective and individual results. Network data can provide information on the relationship between context, organizations' roles and characteristics, and the effectiveness of public policies.

Practical implications

Information regarding patterns of exchange relationships such as services, resources, influence, knowledge and personnel, are relevant for policymaking processes and may subsidize new approaches and policy instruments that seek to optimize, develop and prescribe structural arrangements for better coordination and effective provision of public services.

Originality/value

The paper advances current literature by presenting a general methodological approach to large interorganizational networks, useful for the consistent theoretical development of governance network theory in the public administration field.

中文翻译：

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通过组织间关系探索政府网络：基于社会网络分析（SNA）的研究策略

目的

本文的目的是提供社会网络分析 (SNA) 如何用于公共管理网络研究的方法论指南和示例。SNA 描述了由不同参与者之间的关系模式形成的网络结构。政府、市场和社会之间的交流关系将公共部门的政策和目标概念化，可以作为突出政府活动的潜在治理结构、协调和管理机制、组织能力和战略的一种手段进行分析。

设计/方法/方法

从网络管理、结构和治理模式的关键方面和概念出发，通过对公共部门培训提供者和接受者之间关系模式的说明性研究，提出了分析公共网络的研究策略。

发现

SNA 突出了流行的组织模式——官僚、市场或协作（网络）——影响网络结构以及集体和个人结果的关键参与者、角色和战略。网络数据可以提供有关环境、组织角色和特征以及公共政策有效性之间关系的信息。

实际影响

有关服务、资源、影响力、知识和人员等交换关系模式的信息与决策过程相关，并可能补贴寻求优化、发展和规定结构安排以更好地协调和有效提供公共服务的新方法和政策工具.

原创性/价值

本文通过介绍大型组织间网络的一般方法论来推进当前的文献，这对于公共行政领域治理网络理论的一致理论发展非常有用。