Evaluating the effectiveness of interorganizational relations through networks

Abstract Although networks are a growing phenomenon there is no definitive way to determine if they are a more effective means of policy development and service delivery. The difficulty is that networks have been assessed based on traditional measures while ignoring the importance of process variables and their impact on outcomes in networks. Furthermore, networks can be complex arrangements, operating within and across layers of interaction with diverse member expectations and goals. Therefore, in addition to using traditional performance measures to determine some aspects of the effectiveness of networks, this article proposes that different types of evaluation processes are needed to incorporate the complex and unique characteristics of networks. A combined framework that incorporates multiple perspectives in effectiveness that is based on the different types, levels of analysis and stages of development of networks is therefore presented.