New Arrivals/Restock

The authors propose a taxonomy for delineating one network class from another, with three classes: structural-oriented, system-oriented, and purpose-oriented. This will help the field to compare networks and learn faster.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The study of networks in the domains of public management and policy has witnessed a significant expansion in its scope, encompassing a wide range of phenomena. Nevertheless, we currently lack a reliable and empirically validated taxonomy to differentiate one network class from another. In their work, the authors propose a classification system that encompasses all networks and multi-organizational collaborative entities into three distinct taxonomic classes: structural-oriented, system-oriented, and purpose-oriented. This Element serves as a comprehensive review of the intellectual disciplinary backgrounds that have shaped our understanding of these three classes of networks. It then presents a detailed taxonomy for each of these classes, providing a clear framework for their empirical classification. Finally, the Element offers a practical field guide aimed at assisting researchers and practitioners in accurately classifying networks based on their structural, system, and purpose-oriented characteristics. The authors envision that this taxonomy will serve as a valuable tool for accelerating the learning process within and across these classes, enabling a more nuanced and informed analysis of network dynamics and their implications for public management and policy.

Taxonomy of Networks

Interest in networks has grown significantly in the fields of public management and policy, encompassing a wide array of phenomena. However, a stable and empirically verifiable taxonomy to delineate one network class from another remains elusive. In their work, the authors propose a classification system that encompasses all networks and multi-organizational collaborative entities into three distinct taxonomic classes: structural-oriented, system-oriented, and purpose-oriented.