Description

As an alternative arrangement to the market-based and hierarchy-based governance forms, interorganisational networks have experienced a rapid growth in recent years. Despite the widely- quoted networking benefits, empirical studies found that interorganisational networks suffer a high failure rate. This unfortunate phenomenon highlights the importance of one key question to be answered in the field: What leads to interorganisational network's growth and success? This research examines the role of network broker organisation in managing interorganisational networks by conducting an in- depth case study of a public-organisation-brokered interorganisational network. It finds that network brokerage as a form of network governance mechanism contributes significantly to networks' growth and success, by facilitating network interactions and fostering high-level of trust in the network, which are key factors to network success. This book contributes to the research in the areas of network studies and brokerage studies. It will be especially useful to scholars, students and practioners in business or anyone else who is interested in network studies.