The flexibility/stability tension is a key challenge for purpose-oriented networks, especially salient with network participation. Because of the voluntary nature of networks, it is common for network participation to fluctuate, with participants entering, leaving, and returning over time for a variety of reasons. This fluctuation may challenge the stability that is key to network effectiveness. Yet, despite the salience of this tension, we know little about managing the ebb and flow of network participation. Driven by phenomenon-based theorizing, we draw on longitudinal participatory action research to examine participant attendance and contribution in monthly workgroup meetings over a four-year period of an early child education network. Combining interviews (n = 5), meeting attendance tracking (n = 37), and meeting observations (n = 30), we identify six types of flux stemming from individual, organizational, and system forces. We find these forces of flux support both flexibility and stability. Highlighting the duality of flexibility and stability, we explain how flexibility at one level may result in stability at another and vice versa. Our findings contribute to a greater understanding of how stability and flexibility are both valuable for networks and thus, the need to embrace the ebb and flow of participation.

中文翻译：

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网络参与的潮起潮落：以目标为导向的网络中的灵活性、稳定性和变化形式


灵活性/稳定性紧张关系是面向目标的网络面临的一个关键挑战，尤其是在网络参与方面尤为突出。由于网络的自愿性质，网络参与率通常会波动，参与者会出于各种原因随着时间的推移进入、离开和返回。这种波动可能会挑战对网络有效性至关重要的稳定性。然而，尽管这种紧张局势很突出，但我们对管理网络参与的潮起潮落知之甚少。在基于现象的理论化的驱动下，我们利用纵向参与式行动研究来检查参与者在幼儿教育网络四年期间每月工作组会议的出席率和贡献。结合访谈 （n = 5）、会议出席跟踪 （n = 37） 和会议观察 （n = 30），我们确定了源于个人、组织和系统力量的六种类型的变化。我们发现这些磁通力既支持灵活性又支持稳定性。强调灵活性和稳定性的二元性，我们解释了一个层面的柔韧性如何导致另一个层面的稳定性，反之亦然。我们的研究结果有助于更好地理解稳定性和灵活性对网络的价值，因此需要接受参与的潮起潮落。