As organizações buscam ter um posicionamento e ser atuantes em relação ao tema Sustentabilidade, devido à urgência dos desafios que ainda devem ser enfrentados em relação ao aumento da demanda da sociedade e da degradação do meio ambiente. Este tema é atual e um assunto sistêmico que deve ser considerado por todos os setores de uma organização. Em paralelo, percebe-se uma mudança na maneira como as empresas estão se configurando, na forma de redes, como alternativa às transformações econômicas. Deste modo, observa-se que os projetos que tem por objetivo promover a Sustentabilidade podem ser realizados pela formação de redes entre as organizações. Os fatores motivadores deste trabalho se devem às observações de iniciativas existentes para a promoção da sustentabilidade com o envolvimento de instituições distintas e a carência de pesquisas considerando estes assuntos. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é avaliar o grau de maturidade das organizações que desejam trabalhar em forma de redes de empresas nos projetos de implantação da sustentabilidade. Para alcançar tal meta, foi realizado um estudo de caso em dois projetos que promoveram a sustentabilidade e foram concretizados com o envolvimento de organizações distintas. Os resultados obtidos permitem confirmar as proposições teóricas construídas pela pesquisadora, apontando a importância de se avaliar a maturidade das organizações que desejam trabalhar em forma de redes de empresas em projetos de aplicação da sustentabilidade. / Organizations are looking at having a position and be active in relation to sustainability, because of the urgency of the challenges that must be addressed in relation to the increased demand of society and environmental degradation. This theme is present, and a systemic issue that should be considered by all sectors of an organization. In parallel, there is a perceived change in how companies are shaping up in the form of networks as an alternative to the economic. Thus, it is observed that the projects that aim to promote sustainability can be achieved through business networks between organizations. The motivating factors of this work are due to observations of existing initiatives to promote sustainability with the involvement of different institutions and the lack of research considering these issues. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the maturity level of organizations who wish to work in the form of business networks in deployment projects sustainability. To achieve this goal, a case study was conducted in two projects that promoted sustainability and were implemented with the involvement of different organizations. The results obtained confirm the theoretical propositions constructed by the researcher, pointing out the importance of evaluating the maturity of organizations wishing to work in the form of networks of firms in projects applying sustainability.

Mandated collaboration networks are an overly studied topic in the field of public administration and management, with the emphasis on these studies however focused on the failures to accomplish its collaborative aims. The role that mandated collaboration networks play today in enabling societies and governments alike,  to realize insurmountable challenges through their  collaborative efforts is however not being paid as much attention as it should be, yet through it, huge socio and economic benefits are derived.  This study recognizes the part mandated collaboration network plays by seeking to further investigate the role, power and trust play in influencing managers towards attaining efficiency. Data was collected from 7 managers from the public sector, with some public managers, tasked with the responsibility of playing oversight role and disbursing funds and other public managers tasked with implementing the services, all working towards achieving a regional goal within Västerbotten region. By conducting semi-structured interviews with them, the aim was to find out the daily encounters they faced in implementing their activities and achieving their goals. In order to analyze this study adequately, theories were derived from governance, principal agency, structuration theory, Long & Sitkin integrated trust and control framework  that enabled me to come up with a conceptual framework. The findings of this framework were particularly insightful in regards to how managers in mandated collaboration network can use trust in ensuring that they achieve their desired efficiency goals. The findings show both power and trust in mandated collaboration network play a coordinative and regulative role in ensuring that the goals are realized. Calculative trust alongside formal controls can be used to address challenges that managers encounter in realizing their goals. Relational trust can also be nurtured, however at an interpersonal level or with peers that perform the same activities but not at an institutional level such as the mandated collaboration network. Attaining efficiency in the mandated collaboration network is however also further compounded by contextual matters both internal and external that hamper its attainment.

As organizações buscam ter um posicionamento e ser atuantes em relação ao tema Sustentabilidade, devido à urgência dos desafios que ainda devem ser enfrentados em relação ao aumento da demanda da sociedade e da degradação do meio ambiente. Este tema é atual e um assunto sistêmico que deve ser considerado por todos os setores de uma organização. Em paralelo, percebe-se uma mudança na maneira como as empresas estão se configurando, na forma de redes, como alternativa às transformações econômicas. Deste modo, observa-se que os projetos que tem por objetivo promover a Sustentabilidade podem ser realizados pela formação de redes entre as organizações. Os fatores motivadores deste trabalho se devem às observações de iniciativas existentes para a promoção da sustentabilidade com o envolvimento de instituições distintas e a carência de pesquisas considerando estes assuntos. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é avaliar o grau de maturidade das organizações que desejam trabalhar em forma de redes de empresas nos projetos de implantação da sustentabilidade. Para alcançar tal meta, foi realizado um estudo de caso em dois projetos que promoveram a sustentabilidade e foram concretizados com o envolvimento de organizações distintas. Os resultados obtidos permitem confirmar as proposições teóricas construídas pela pesquisadora, apontando a importância de se avaliar a maturidade das organizações que desejam trabalhar em forma de redes de empresas em projetos de aplicação da sustentabilidade. / Organizations are looking at having a position and be active in relation to sustainability, because of the urgency of the challenges that must be addressed in relation to the increased demand of society and environmental degradation. This theme is present, and a systemic issue that should be considered by all sectors of an organization. In parallel, there is a perceived change in how companies are shaping up in the form of networks as an alternative to the economic. Thus, it is observed that the projects that aim to promote sustainability can be achieved through business networks between organizations. The motivating factors of this work are due to observations of existing initiatives to promote sustainability with the involvement of different institutions and the lack of research considering these issues. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the maturity level of organizations who wish to work in the form of business networks in deployment projects sustainability. To achieve this goal, a case study was conducted in two projects that promoted sustainability and were implemented with the involvement of different organizations. The results obtained confirm the theoretical propositions constructed by the researcher, pointing out the importance of evaluating the maturity of organizations wishing to work in the form of networks of firms in projects applying sustainability.

Background: The world becomes more connected as technology advances and with the internet as a distribution channel more companies internationalises. However, there are still cultural differences around the world that marketers must take into consideration. The marketing industry faces difficult challenges in adaptation to international marketing, as collaboration between local marketing agencies could be a solution.   Purpose: The purpose of the study is to contribute with understanding of how local marketing agencies can work together for global clients, and how these agencies can adapt local marketing for these clients. In order to understand how marketing agencies can work together, this study will contribute with understanding of this collaboration between local marketing agencies and how they can help each other grow their businesses.   Method: This study uses a qualitative method with unstructured interviews of five people operational within a network of local marketing agencies.     Theory: The theoretical framework for this study consists of theories in international marketing, collaboration and learning.   Results and conclusions: By collaborating in a network, local marketing agencies get access to international markets and can support global clients. By having multiple local agencies working together for global clients, these agencies all provide local knowledge and create local communication. The collaboration in a network is most effective if the competition is eliminated, which can be done through shared ownership and personal connection within the network.

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Thesis advisor: William B. Stevenson / Thesis advisor: Sandra Waddock / The main purpose of this dissertation research is to understand the collaborative interactions among actors engaging in change efforts in the existing institutional arrangements. Specifically, this dissertation research sheds light on the collaboration networks of social investors who desire both their own financial benefits and stakeholder welfare, by filing shareholder resolutions to bring environmental or stakeholder concerns to the attention of corporate managers. My research strategy in this dissertation is to propose and write a theoretical study and two empirical studies. I propose in chapter 2 a conceptual and theoretical framework for inquiring into social investors' collaboration strategies to develop the field of shareholder resolutions on social issues. The key argument is researchers pay attention to focal actors, multiple actors, and the relationships among them to understand the social mechanisms which integrate active shareholders with the field of social resolutions. In order to determine social investors' strategies to initiate and mobilize their filing activities, based on the social movement perspectives and a social network approach, I propose four conceptual dimensions from the social movement perspectives: identity, social relationships, target identification, and issue framing. In two empirical studies, I test my propositions by analyzing 1650 shareholder resolutions filed by 267 social investors from 2002 to 2007. The first study presented in chapter 4 addresses who initiate social resolution filings, by examining determinants of social investors' proactive initiating activities. When religious investors have brokerage positions, their initiating activity of filing social resolutions are very proactive. However, social investors' range of stock ownership does not go along with their brokerage positions. These findings imply that leading social investors need to have brokerage positions when they have faith-based identity, but that they don't need social resources when they have enough financial resources, a wide range of stocks. The second study presented in chapter 5 explains how leading social investors attract to mobilize their potential followers. Interestingly, the reciprocation hypothesis, "give and take of co-filing support," is negatively supported, indicating a division of labor in the field of social resolutions. In addition, lead-filing social investors who successfully attract and mobilize other investors aim at target companies that are well known among other social investors, and frame issues in wide angles in their social resolutions. These empirical studies demonstrate that active social investors developed their collaboration networks dependent upon their faith-based identity, social relations, targets identification and issue framing strategies. In this dissertation, I assert the necessity and importance of studies on the activities of shareholders by demonstrating that some active investors have strategically led the socially responsible investment movement. This dissertation provides counter-evidence to the conventional assumption that corporate managers should ignore stakeholder welfare if they pursue shareholder value. It also demonstrates that the network-based movements can be a good platform for social change agents to develop their own fields. Strategically, as they interact with each other, small and weak actors can build their own field to collectively influence corporate management. In this sense, the network-based movements underscore the way the infrastructure of a field emerges. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Carroll School of Management. / Discipline: Organization Studies and Corporate Responsibility.

Rising childhood obesity with its detrimental health consequences poses a challenge to the health care system. Community-based, multi-setting interventions with the participatory involvement of relevant stakeholders are emerging as promising. To gain insights into the structural and processual characteristics of stakeholder networks, conducting a network analysis (NA) is advisable. Within the program “Family+—Healthy Living Together in Families and Schools”, a network analysis was conducted in two rural model regions and one urban model region. Relevant stakeholders were identified in 2020–2021 through expert interviews and interviewed by telephone to elicit key variables such as frequency of contact and intensity of collaboration. Throughout the NA, characteristics such as density, centrality, and connectedness were analyzed and are presented graphically. Due to the differences in the number of inhabitants and the rural or urban structure of the model regions, the three networks (network#1, network#2, and network#3) included 20, 14, and 12 stakeholders, respectively. All networks had similar densities (network#1, 48%; network#2, 52%; network#3, 42%), whereas the degree centrality of network#1 (0.57) and network#3 (0.58) was one-third higher compared with network#2 (0.39). All three networks differed in the distribution of stakeholders in terms of field of expertise and structural orientation. On average, stakeholders exchanged information quarterly and were connected on an informal level. Based on the results of the NA, it appears to be useful to initialize a community health facilitator to involve relevant stakeholders from the education, sports, and health systems in projects and to strive for the goal of sustainable health promotion, regardless of the rural or urban structure of the region. Participatory involvement of relevant stakeholders can have a positive influence on the effective dissemination of information and networking with other stakeholders.

Research is crucial for expanding the boundaries of what is known, driving innovation, and solving problems faced by communities. It is carried out across all sectors of society by all matter of institutions. Academic research is one such sector that contributes to a plethora of disciplines. Research often compels collaboration among researchers, and as with any team, the dynamics and outcomes are affected by the individuals who contribute to the research. For instance, researchers can be from different institutions; therefore research teams can differ in collaboration distance -- the geographic distance between the organizations of authors. In a similar vein, facets of individual researchers may impact their collaboration patterns. Two such known sources of difference are gender and an author's measured impact. This thesis investigates differences in geographic collaboration distance and correlations between impact and network metrics based on the inferred gender of authors from the California Public University system. In particular, this thesis uses publication data primarily from the area of computing with contributions from authors of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and University of California schools. From this data, two collaboration networks are constructed with one used to calculate two measurements of collaboration distance for each author -- distance of individual collaborations and reach of collaborations over time -- and the other to calculate network metrics by author impact. This thesis provides evidence suggesting a differences in collaboration distance over time and network metrics of inferred female and male authors. These differences tend to favor male authors.

In recent years network intrusions have become a severe threat to the privacy and safety of computer users. Recent cyber attacks compromise a large number of hosts to form botnets. Hackers not only aim at harvesting private data and identity information from compromised nodes, but also use the compromised nodes to launch attacks such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. As a counter measure, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are used to identify intrusions by comparing observable behavior against suspicious patterns. Traditional IDSs monitor computer activities on a single host or network traffic in a sub-network. They do not have a global view of intrusions and are not effective in detecting fast spreading attacks, unknown, or new threats. In turn, they can achieve better detection accuracy through collaboration. An Intrusion Detection Network (IDN) is such a collaboration network allowing IDSs to exchange information with each other and to benefit from the collective knowledge and experience shared by others. IDNs enhance the overall accuracy of intrusion assessment as well as the ability to detect new intrusion types. Building an effective IDN is however a challenging task. For example, adversaries may compromise some IDSs in the network and then leverage the compromised nodes to send false information, or even attack others in the network, which can compromise the efficiency of the IDN. It is, therefore, important for an IDN to detect and isolate malicious insiders. Another challenge is how to make efficient intrusion detection assessment based on the collective diagnosis from other IDSs. Appropriate selection of collaborators and incentive-compatible resource management in support of IDSs' interaction with others are also key challenges in IDN design. To achieve efficiency, robustness, and scalability, we propose an IDN architecture and especially focus on the design of four of its essential components, namely, trust management, acquaintance management, resource management, and feedback aggregation. We evaluate our proposals and compare them with prominent ones in the literature and show their superiority using several metrics, including efficiency, robustness, scalability, incentive-compatibility, and fairness. Our IDN design provides guidelines for the deployment of a secure and scalable IDN where effective collaboration can be established between IDSs.

In recent years network intrusions have become a severe threat to the privacy and safety of computer users. Recent cyber attacks compromise a large number of hosts to form botnets. Hackers not only aim at harvesting private data and identity information from compromised nodes, but also use the compromised nodes to launch attacks such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. As a counter measure, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are used to identify intrusions by comparing observable behavior against suspicious patterns. Traditional IDSs monitor computer activities on a single host or network traffic in a sub-network. They do not have a global view of intrusions and are not effective in detecting fast spreading attacks, unknown, or new threats. In turn, they can achieve better detection accuracy through collaboration. An Intrusion Detection Network (IDN) is such a collaboration network allowing IDSs to exchange information with each other and to benefit from the collective knowledge and experience shared by others. IDNs enhance the overall accuracy of intrusion assessment as well as the ability to detect new intrusion types. Building an effective IDN is however a challenging task. For example, adversaries may compromise some IDSs in the network and then leverage the compromised nodes to send false information, or even attack others in the network, which can compromise the efficiency of the IDN. It is, therefore, important for an IDN to detect and isolate malicious insiders. Another challenge is how to make efficient intrusion detection assessment based on the collective diagnosis from other IDSs. Appropriate selection of collaborators and incentive-compatible resource management in support of IDSs' interaction with others are also key challenges in IDN design. To achieve efficiency, robustness, and scalability, we propose an IDN architecture and especially focus on the design of four of its essential components, namely, trust management, acquaintance management, resource management, and feedback aggregation. We evaluate our proposals and compare them with prominent ones in the literature and show their superiority using several metrics, including efficiency, robustness, scalability, incentive-compatibility, and fairness. Our IDN design provides guidelines for the deployment of a secure and scalable IDN where effective collaboration can be established between IDSs.