With the significant growth of purpose-oriented networks in the realm of public affairs, the challenges for public and nonprofit organizations in deciding which networks to engage with have also increased. This work explores whether organizations with different collaborative motivations prefer networks with different sets of characteristics. By bridging organizational theory and social network literatures, this study proposes a conceptual framework regarding the connections between organizational collaborative motivations and network characteristics. The conceptual framework is then further investigated using a two-phase exploratory sequential mixed-methods design and data from both local and statewide public and nonprofit organizations with experience working in networks. The first phase is a qualitative exploration of the conceptual framework using interview data, and the second phase draws on survey data and crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis (cs-QCA) to refine the theoretical framework. The two-phase study indicates that organizations with different collaborative motivations indeed prefer different kinds of networks. The results also identify multiple pathways for each motivation and which network characteristics need to be combined for each motivation, as well as offer some universal combinations that work for different motivations. The findings are valuable for both network managers' efforts in recruiting members and public and nonprofit organization managers' attempts at seeking beneficial collaborations. / Doctor of Philosophy / Public and nonprofit organizations are often expected to work with others through different collaborative entities, such as organizational networks, to solve complex problems. Given the significant growth of networks in the field of public affairs and the limited time and resources that organizations have available, however, it can be challenging for organizations to decide which networks to participate in. To help make this decision easier, this study sets out to find combinations of network features that match with different collaborative motivations. A framework linking organizational and social network theories is first created, and then examined through a two-phase mixed-methods approach. The first phase involves interviewing a selection of local public and nonprofit organizations and using their feedback to improve the framework. The second phase is an online survey targeting public and nonprofit organizations across Virginia, which further investigates the refined framework. The framework developed from this study not only finds connections between organizational collaborative motivations and network characteristics, but also offers a tool for organizations to identify networks that better match their goals for collaboration and a roadmap for network managers to design networks that better meet the needs of their participants.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/113885 |
| Date | 20 February 2023 |
| Creators | Yang, Huishan |
| Contributors | Government and International Affairs, Lemaire, Robin Hargroder, Wirgau, Jessica Snow, Hult, Karen M., Bredenkamp, David Michael |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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