Contingencies and organizing principles in public networks

摘要

How to make public networks really work? Scholars have recently answered this question by emphasizing the importance of network management, trust and structure. Yet, studies that investigate the interactive effects of varying determinants on network performance are rare. Unsatisfied with the level of integration within the literature, this paper develops and tests the idea of logically coherent organizing principles, such as network management, formalization, network structure and trust. Results show there are multiple, logically coherent organizing principles within successful inter-organizational service delivery networks. However, only a meaningful combination of structure and practices has positive effects on public network performance.