Managing Uncertainties in Networks: Public Private Controversies

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Edition: 1st
Format: Nonspecific Binding
Pub. Date: 8/9/2004
Publisher(s): Routledge
List Price: $78.95

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Summary

As public and private sector organizations work more frequently in partnership, managing uncertainties, problems and controversies becomes increasingly difficult. Despite sophisticated technology and knowledge, the strategic networks and games required to solve uncertainties become more complex and more important than ever before. Managing Uncertainties in Networks is a new text that examines developments in the area of network strategy. Differentiating itself from other policy network approaches which have a mainly research focus, this text has a managerial orientation presenting strategies and management recommendations for public and private sector organizations as well as the analytical tools required by practitioners seeking to support their own internal decision making and strategy formulation. Topics covered include: * Knowledge conflicts * Uncertainties and governments * Technological controversies * Collaborative problem solving * Managing networks Tappinginto the important and ever-growing area of risk and uncertainty management, this is a vital and long awaited staple for the arena written by two leading authors in the field. It will be key reading for students, scholars and policy makers seeking to understand the complexities of the network society.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations viii
Preface xi
1 Uncertainties in dealing with complex problems in the network society 1(16)
1.1 Introduction: dealing with complex problems
1(1)
1.2 Problem solving and decision making in the network society
2(4)
1.3 Uncertainties: wicked societal problems
6(1)
1.4 Dealing with uncertainties: the inadequacy of standard responses
7(2)
1.5 Managing uncertainties in complex networks: a network perspective
9(3)
1.6 Objectives, research question and structure of this book
12(5)
PART I Analysis of uncertainties in dealing with complex problems in networks 17(114)
2 Uncertainty about content: knowledge conflicts and asymmetrical debates
19(20)
2.1 Uncertainty about content: an introduction
19(5)
2.2 Two responses to substantive uncertainty and their implications
24(4)
2.3 Sources of substantive uncertainty: problem frames and ambiguity
28(9)
2.4 Conclusion: dealing with substantive uncertainty
37(2)
3 Uncertainty and process: problem solving as a strategic game
39(27)
3.1 Strategic uncertainty in problem solving: introduction
39(3)
3.2 Theories of problem solving: from rational model to game approach
42(3)
3.3 The basic elements of the policy game
45(6)
3.4 Theoretical interlude: the fragmented nature of policy games as a source of uncertainty
51(4)
3.5 Fragmented policy games: problem solving at the crossroads of arenas and games
55(4)
3.6 The evolution of the policy game: rounds, impasses and breakthroughs
59(2)
3.7 Outcomes of the policy game: impacts on content, process and institutions
61(4)
3.8 Conclusion: dealing with strategic uncertainty
65(1)
4 Uncertainty and institutions: patterns, rules and trust
66(24)
4.1 Networks as the institutional context for interaction and games
66(3)
4.2 Towards an institutional network theory
69(5)
4.3 Institutional theories and the network theory: an interlude
74(3)
4.4 Rules in networks: a social infrastructure
77(5)
4.5 Trust as a help against uncertainty
82(5)
4.6 Conclusion: closedness, complexity and change
87(3)
5 Uncertainties and governments: old and new responses
90(23)
5.1 Introduction: government responses to uncertainty
90(1)
5.2 The primacy of politics: a problematic doctrine
91(4)
5.3 Standard response to uncertainty: central norms and consultation
95(6)
5.4 New Public Management response: markets and contracts as an answer to uncertainty
101(6)
5.5 Governance: horizontal steering and cooperation as an answer to uncertainty
107(4)
5.6 Conclusion: governance and the need for network management
111(2)
6 Summing up: dealing with uncertainties in networks
113(20)
6.1 Introduction: building blocks for a theoretical framework
113(1)
6.2 A network approach to problem solving and decision making
113(2)
6.3 Explanations for the evolution and outcome of policy games in networks
115(7)
6.4 Assessing the evolution and outcomes of policy games
122(7)
6.5 A preview of Part 2
129(2)
PART 2 Management of uncertainties in dealing with complex problems in networks 131(130)
7 Mapping uncertainties in games and networks
133(27)
7.1 Introduction
133(2)
7.2 Actor, game and network analysis: an overview
135(1)
7.3 Actor analysis: identifying actors, problems, perceptions and dependencies
135(12)
7.4 Game analysis: identification and analysis of arenas, progress and stagnation
147(4)
7.5 The network: analysis of interactions, relations and rules
151(7)
7.6 Reflection: the opportunities and limitations of a stepwise plan
158(2)
8 Managing content: furthering cross-frame reflection and the creation of negotiated knowledge
160(24)
8.1 Introduction
160(1)
8.2 Improving frame reflection and cross frame learning
161(14)
8.3 Arranging research activities: the furtherance of negotiated knowledge
175(8)
8.4 Conclusion: conditions for cognitive learning
183(1)
9 Managing the game: selective couplings, rules of the game and process management
184(28)
9.1 Introduction
184(2)
9.2 Managing the game: general principles
186(2)
9.3 Game management as couplings and decouplings of actors, arenas and games
188(4)
9.4 Game management as furthering the creation of the rules of the game
192(11)
9.5 Game management as facilitating the game
203(7)
9.6 Conclusion: conditions for managing strategic uncertainties
210(2)
10 Managing the network: strategies for institutional design
212(28)
10.1 Introduction: intertwinement or disentanglement?
212(3)
10.2 Changing network rules: tinkering at the foundation of the network
215(11)
10.3 Robust changes of perceptions: reaming
226(4)
10.4 Enhancing trust: a matter of patience
230(2)
10.5 The role of political bodies: a design proposal
232(7)
10.6 Conclusions: the possibilities and pitfalls of institutional design
239(1)
11 Managing uncertainties in networks
240(21)
11.1 Introduction
240(1)
11.2 Management of uncertainties in networks: disentanglers and entanglers
241(2)
11.3 The management of uncertainties in network settings: the repertoire of strategies
243(6)
11.4 The choice of network management strategies
249(8)
11.5 Some reflections upon the management of uncertainties
257(4)
Bibliography 261(17)
Index 278

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