How do network characteristics influence network managers’ choice of strategies?

As indicated in the research on networks over the past 10 years, network management strategies are very important for achieving results in governance networks. But what characteristics influence the deployment of network management strategies? Using quantitative data on network managers in environmental projects at the local level, this paper looks at three important network characteristics (network size, degree of hierarchy, and conflict level) and assesses their influence on three categories of network management strategies: connecting, exploring, and arranging. The results show that, for network managers, more hierarchy leads to a stronger likelihood of choosing connecting; a larger network size leads to more exploring and arranging; and more conflict correlates with less use of connecting and exploring.Public sector managers have to deal with the complexities of the networks they encounter when they want to solve issues. The authors’ research indicates that larger networks with more and a greater variety of actors need to be addressed by using more different network management strategies. A dilemma of the paper’s findings is that more conflict in the network was correlated with employing fewer network management strategies. But, of course, the conflict itself and the need to address the policy problem ask for more intensified managerial effort, taking time and attention to really solve the conflict. This paper offers some possible ways out.