IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i14p7229-d589406.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Do Networks Reflect Collaborative Governance? The Case of a Sport Policy Program

Author

Listed:
  • Kati Lehtonen

    (LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40700 Jyväskylä, Finland)

  • Petri Uusikylä

    (Social and Health Management, School of Management, University of Vaasa, Wolffintie 34, 65200 Vaasa, Finland)

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which collaborative governance thinking is realized in a government-funded sport policy program. Our main argument is that this conversion requires the analysis and interpretation of meso-governance and related networks. In the analysis of meso-level sports policy governance networks, we apply social network analysis and theme interviews. The empirical analysis conducted in this study involves the network-based structure of the Finnish Schools on the Move (FSM) program, which was implemented in Finland from 2009 to 2018. Our research questions are as follows: (1) How have the nature and network structure of the program changed throughout the implementation of the program? (2) How is the collaborative governance thinking reflected in the design and implementation of the FSM program? This study shows that the network is the most significant intermediary structure at the policy and organizational levels. Particularly, it was important in the start-up phase of the program, when the main task of the network was to bring together different actors and to generate a common vision. By the end of the program’s funding, the structure of the network became centralized, with decreasing density. However, the analysis shows that collaborative governance thinking is mainly reflected in implementation, rather than in the genuine joint planning of activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Kati Lehtonen & Petri Uusikylä, 2021. "How Do Networks Reflect Collaborative Governance? The Case of a Sport Policy Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7229-:d:589406
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7229/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7229/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ferkins, Lesley & Shilbury, David & O’Boyle, Ian, 2018. "Leadership in governance: Exploring collective board leadership in sport governance systems," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 221-231.
    2. Lesley Ferkins & David Shilbury & Ian O’Boyle, 2018. "Leadership in governance: Exploring collective board leadership in sport governance systems," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 221-231, July.
    3. Milena M. Parent & Christian Rouillard & Michael L. Naraine, 2017. "Network governance of a multi-level, multi-sectoral sport event: Differences in coordinating ties and actors," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(5), pages 497-509, December.
    4. Parent, Milena M. & Rouillard, Christian & Naraine, Michael L., 2017. "Network governance of a multi-level, multi-sectoral sport event: Differences in coordinating ties and actors," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 497-509.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Weihua Yan & Na Xu & Rui Xue & Zhenghang Ye & Zhaoyang Wang & Dingmeng Ren, 2022. "Efforts Proposed by IOC to Alleviate Pressure on Olympic Games Hosts and Evidence from Beijing 2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Constandt, Bram & Parent, Milena M. & Willem, Annick, 2020. "Does it really matter? A study on soccer fans’ perceptions of ethical leadership and their role as “stakeowners”," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 374-386.
    3. Mohit Vij & Amitabh Upadhya & Anu Vij & Manoj Kumar, 2019. "Exploring Residents’ Perceptions of Mega Event-Dubai Expo 2020: A Pre-Event Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7229-:d:589406. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.