Management of Collaborative Networked Organizations faces various challenges in terms of decision-making. Particularly, in complex and multi-player environments, like healthcare, it is not easy to find the roots of low performance processes, and unmet goals. This research provides a framework, as well as associated techniques to analyze the value network, identify problematic actors, and consequently, find the best possible solution to change them. The proposed framework consists of two main components: Analyzing the value network, and Multi-Criteria Decision Making. To analyze the value network of a collaborative environment, in addition to the existing techniques, four complementary components are introduced: Actors’ value interchanges matrix, Value Gantt chart, Identifying problematic actors flowchart, and Actors’ ease of substitution table. Employing these hybrid analyses, decision makers gain a better understanding of the bottlenecks in the value network, current conditions and contributions of the involved actors, and the consequences of considering various alternatives. Then, by applying one of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods, and based on pre-defined criteria, possible alternatives are analyzed and outlined. As a proof of concept and validation of the proposed methods, we reviewed a scenario of patient flow and wait times in healthcare. We derive the value network for collaborative processes in a hospital, specify the roles’ of actors, identify the bottlenecks, then rank the solutions, and suggest possible changes to improve the performance of the collaborative environment.

Inter-organizational collaboration based on the use of IT systems is now essential for organizations working as Collaborative Networked Organizations (CNOs). However, little research has been done to examine the critical success factors involved in shared IT governance among members of a CNO. Accordingly, this research develops a model of inter-organizational IT-governance composed of critical success factors (CSFs) and key performance indicators. The study defines fourteen CSFs that are classified under the main four categories of IT governance, which include strategic alignment, resource management, value delivery and risk management, and performance measurement. In addition, the study identifies key performance indicators that measure the CSFs and evaluate the effectiveness of how partners work together in joint processes for a common goal. The main dimensions of the KPIs include consensus, alignment, accountability, trust, involvement and transparency. The model was validated by gathering feedback from participants in a healthcare on the importance of the CSFs and performance indicators. The findings confirm the importance of the CSFs but suggest that they could be ranked in order of criticality. In addition, certain CSFs were re-defined based on the experience of CNO participants and questions were raised related to the context of the CNO, which influences participant perceptions, as well as the degree of formalization noted in the CNO.

Management of Collaborative Networked Organizations faces various challenges in terms of decision-making. Particularly, in complex and multi-player environments, like healthcare, it is not easy to find the roots of low performance processes, and unmet goals. This research provides a framework, as well as associated techniques to analyze the value network, identify problematic actors, and consequently, find the best possible solution to change them. The proposed framework consists of two main components: Analyzing the value network, and Multi-Criteria Decision Making. To analyze the value network of a collaborative environment, in addition to the existing techniques, four complementary components are introduced: Actors’ value interchanges matrix, Value Gantt chart, Identifying problematic actors flowchart, and Actors’ ease of substitution table. Employing these hybrid analyses, decision makers gain a better understanding of the bottlenecks in the value network, current conditions and contributions of the involved actors, and the consequences of considering various alternatives. Then, by applying one of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods, and based on pre-defined criteria, possible alternatives are analyzed and outlined. As a proof of concept and validation of the proposed methods, we reviewed a scenario of patient flow and wait times in healthcare. We derive the value network for collaborative processes in a hospital, specify the roles’ of actors, identify the bottlenecks, then rank the solutions, and suggest possible changes to improve the performance of the collaborative environment.