Increasingly, scholars and practitioners are interested in evaluating the effectiveness of interorganizational networks. We use a configuration approach to study network effectiveness. This research is a mixed-method study of 26 education networks in the United States. We measure network effectiveness by comparing 4th-grade literacy, 8th-grade literacy, and high-school graduation rates. We compare these scores with all school districts in the state using interrupted time series or parametric difference-in-differences approaches. Then, drawing from qualitative data from interviews and archives, we investigate the network governance, environmental characteristics, and theories of change associated with greater student achievement. We find three configurations associated with network effectiveness using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. One configuration combines decentralized governance with a project theory of change in the context of resource munificence. A second configuration associated with network effectiveness is to combine learning and systems alignment theories of change with smaller network size and resource munificence. The final configuration combines decentralized governance, a learning theory of change, less resource munificence, and larger network size and does not use a systems alignment theory of change. The results support the configurational approach, which suggests multiple configurations of factors in combination may result in network effectiveness.

中文翻译：

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上下文中的网络有效性

越来越多的学者和实践者对评估组织间网络的有效性感兴趣。我们使用配置方法来研究网络有效性。这项研究是对美国 26 个教育网络的混合方法研究。我们通过比较四年级识字率、八年级识字率和高中毕业率来衡量网络有效性。我们使用中断时间序列或参数差分法将这些分数与该州所有学区进行比较。然后，根据访谈和档案中的定性数据，我们调查了网络治理、环境特征和与更高学生成绩相关的变革理论。我们使用模糊集定性比较分析发现了三种与网络有效性相关的配置。一种配置将分散治理与资源丰富背景下的变革项目理论相结合。与网络有效性相关的第二种配置是将学习和系统调整理论与较小的网络规模和资源丰富性相结合。最终配置结合了去中心化治理、变革学习理论、更少的资源丰富性和更大的网络规模，并且不使用系统调整变革理论。结果支持配置方法，这表明组合的多种配置因素可能会导致网络有效性。与网络有效性相关的第二种配置是将学习和系统调整理论与较小的网络规模和资源丰富性相结合。最终配置结合了去中心化治理、变革学习理论、更少的资源丰富性和更大的网络规模，并且不使用系统调整变革理论。结果支持配置方法，这表明组合的多种配置因素可能会导致网络有效性。与网络有效性相关的第二种配置是将学习和系统调整理论与较小的网络规模和资源丰富性相结合。最终配置结合了去中心化治理、变革学习理论、更少的资源丰富性和更大的网络规模，并且不使用系统调整变革理论。结果支持配置方法，这表明组合的多种配置因素可能会导致网络有效性。