A Model for Capacity Building in Network Governance

Network governance is an analytical framework for comprehending and adjusting relations among the relevant actors so that they can face multi-faceted and complicated issues in the policy-making process and public administration. This research intends to design a model for capacity building in network governance.

The statistical population fell into two parts. The first part covered the qualitative administrative system with 25 academic and organizational experts in the concepts and applications of network governance. The purposive judgment sampling method was applied here. The second part of the population, taking up a quantitative approach, consisted of public sector managers, from among of whom 390 individuals were randomly selected.

Results show that capacity building in network governance is achievable in the framework of such themes as formulating network governance policies, creating network relations between public and private sectors and civil society, creating a participative foundation among governance actors, enhancing administrative capacity based on network, outsourcing government duties, and establishing network management mechanisms. Besides, there are some causal factors as follow: changing politicians’ views; integrated government; expanding IT; citizens’ demanding orientation; contextual factors including financial, economic, political, legal, social, cultural, and technological conditions; intervening factors such as internal organizational readiness as well as external organizational readiness of private and civic sectors. The outcomes of network governance establishment are the prevalence of public values, flexible reaction to demands, and reduction in public services costs, specializing services, innovation and transparency.

Originality: 

This study introduced a new design for capacity building in network governance, which is contingent with significant outcomes for network governance like the prevalence of public values governance for both society and government. It also introduced network governance as a framework for public management.

Implications: 

Considering the presented model, suggestions have been made regarding capacity building in the government in order to establish network governance like integration of government’s scattered processes and developing managers in line with network thinking.