Resultados Huila 4.1.1.21 Escenarios Huila

The literature review presents an examination of prior network studies relevant to the particular research interest of this investigation. The review is concerned with uncovering and understanding how the multiple levels within networks influence the organising dynamics in an intentionally formed network. To do this it is important to understand the network context in which the study is based. The prior research studies from the network literature did not provide substantive answers to the research objectives.

The first part of the review identified a need for future network studies to: (1) jointly consider structural and informal coordination mechanism aspects, (2) be longitudinal studies due to the dynamic nature of networks, (3) examine context, and (4) investigate the sport-sector setting. Furthermore, intentionally formed networks were examined and found to be an area that had not been considered fully within the literature. To develop a theoretical framework and understand the aspects of dynamics, context, structure and informal coordination mechanisms that might be relevant to this research study, the review of prior network studies was divided into: (1) context, (2) forms of networks, (3) the role of the central broker, and (4) informal coordination mechanisms.

The purpose of the second part of the review was to examine prior network studies in order to understand areas of importance to the organising dynamics of intentionally formed network – constructs that would be relevant to the present study. The construct areas within the role of the central broker are understanding who the focal actors are, actor motivations and cooperation; for forms of networks they are density, reachability, range, position and power; and for informal coordination mechanisms they are commitment, motivation, trust, communication and frequency, cooperation, sharing of resources, knowledge and information transfer, and adaptations. The findings from the review have been used to guide participant questioning and to help in the interpretation of data collected. (This is further discussed in Chapter Four which deals with the research method).

A summary noting the areas of research interest neglected in the literature is presented in Table 2.1 and is discussed afterwards.

Table 2.1: Summary of research issues

Research approaches Key studies Relevance for this thesis

1. Organic versus intentionally formed networks

Network research has mainly focused on understanding and explaining organic networks. Research into understanding intentionally formed networks needs to be undertaken (Håkansson, 2006; Möller et al., 2005; Pihkala et al., 1999; Tikkanen & Parvinen, 2006). Further research is also required into understanding the motivations for actors to improve their network position and how these networks may be managed (Madhavan et al., 1998).

Intentionally formed networks need to be examined because there is little literature in this area. Given practitioner and government interest in intentionally formed networks, this is an area which should be developed.

2. Networks are complex and dynamic and, to be understood, need to be studied over time.

Many prior studies have undertaken a static examination of networks which involves creating a snapshot in time. Research which takes into account the dynamic nature of networks needs to be undertaken (Brass et al., 2004; Coviello, 2005; Ford & Redwood, 2005; Gadde & Mattsson, 1987; Halinen & Törnroos, 2005; Hite & Hesterly, 2001; Hoang & Antoncic, 2003; Larson & Starr, 1993; Madhavan et al., 1998; Melin, 1992; O'Donnell et al., 2001; Powell et al., 2005; Soda et al., 2004).

Intentionally formed networks should be studied over a period of time from their inception in order to capture their dynamic aspect.

3. Networks consist of both structural and informal coordination mechanism dimensions. Studies have tended to focus on either one or the other.

Both structural and informal coordination mechanism dimensions need to be considered jointly in the same research study (Benson-Rea & Wilson, 2003; Coviello, 2005; Håkansson, 2006; Hoang & Antoncic, 2003).

Both structural and informal coordination mechanism dimensions need to be considered jointly.

4. Network context needs to be understood.

Networks seek to adapt to and influence their external environment, i.e. the context within which they are operating. Understanding this context enables a fuller understanding of the network (Achrol, 1991; Anderson et al., 1994; Cook, 1977; Gulati et al., 2000; Mattsson, 1997).

Also the sport sector is an area that has few studies of networks (Cousens & Slack, 2005; Erickson & Kushner, 1999; Thibault & Harvey, 1997; Wolfe et al., 2002).

For this research study a sport-sector context will be examined.

5. Levels of network studies Prior research has approached the study of networks at one level. However, networks are affected by cross-level pressures within them and there is a call for more research in this area (Brass et al., 2004; Day, 1995; Gulati, 1998; Möller et al., 2005; Parkhe et al., 2006; Powell, 1987). Multiplicity between actors results in multiple realities requiring an understanding of multiple perspectives from multiple levels within actors (Kjellberg & Helgesson, 2006).

It is apparent from examining the literature that the examination of cross-level pressures has not been done adequately.

6. Strength of relational dimensions

The strength and content of the relationships within networks, rather than merely their existence or non-existence, is emerging as an area of greater interest. There is a call for research into the measurement of relational strength (Brass et al., 1998; Brass et al., 2004).

The strength of relationships within the network needs to be understood.

Table 2.1 shows that this research study addresses a gap in the literature, i.e. the study seeks to explore intentionally formed networks because there is a lack of knowledge in the area of intentionally formed networks (Galaskiewicz, 1996; Pihkala et al., 1999; Tikkanen & Parvinen, 2006). The need to understand intentionally formed networks is further demonstrated by government and organisation interest, which was discussed in Chapter One. This research study also answers a call for further research, a call begun by Liu and Brookfield (2000) and continued by Håkansson (2006) and Möller and Rajala (2007), to identify and categorise both the different types of network structure and the important features of them. In addition, this study hopes to provide a contribution to the sport sector as little research, with the exception of Cousens and Slack (2005), Erickson and Kushner (1999), Thibault and Harvey (1997), and Wolfe et al. (2002), has been conducted in this field. Finally, the new data can be presented to examine findings in other research contexts, such as the not-for-profit and social policy sectors.

Important articles that are especially relevant are shown in Appendix A: Key contributions from the literature that inform this study. Although these articles were unable to provide answers to the research objectives because there is a gap in the literature dealing with intentionally formed networks, they did discuss a number of constructs that develop understanding of intentionally formed networks. These constructs have been discussed in this review and are used to inform the data-collection method, which is discussed in Chapter Four. Furthermore, the literature review has highlighted the fact that few exploratory studies, and even fewer quantitative studies, have been undertaken. Thus, research that seeks to generalise theory in the area of intentionally formed networks is an area of emerging interest, and a fuller understanding of the complex and dynamic nature of networks is still being sought by academics (Anderson et al., 1994; Håkansson, 2006; Halinen & Törnroos, 2005; Hoang & Antoncic, 2003; Möller & Rajala, 2007; O'Donnell et al., 2001), especially with regard to the measurement of tie strength (Brass et al., 1998; Brass et al., 2004). Finally, the literature review has highlighted that there is no single over- arching network theory – further evidence of the emerging nature of this research area (Håkansson, 2006; Halinen & Törnroos, 2005; Johnsen et al., 2000; Turnbull et al., 1996).

The areas of research interest emerging from the review were used to develop the research objectives further; these objectives are detailed in Chapter Four. The areas of research interest are:

1. further understanding of intentionally formed networks and how they are managed, because few studies have been conducted in this area

2. the complex and dynamic nature of networks, because many prior studies have taken only a static examination of them

3. the consideration of both structural and informal coordination mechanism dimensions in the same study, because earlier studies have tended not to address both structural and informal coordination mechanism dimensions in one study 4. network context – this needs to be understood especially as network theory has

not been readily applied to the sport sector, and no academic study has been carried out into high-performance sport provision in a New Zealand context 5. the effect that cross-level pressures have on networks, because prior research

has approached the study of networks at only one level, and

6. the strength and content of the relationships within networks, because this appears to be more relevant than just the existence or non-existence of a relationship.

The areas neglected in the literature are in some cases due to methodological constraints because there is a lack of literature on the methodology of network research (Halinen & Törnroos, 2005). As a consequence of both the emerging nature of this research area and the complex nature of networks, a qualitative research approach is recommended (Hoang & Antoncic, 2003; O'Donnell et al., 2001). However, future research into networks would benefit from a combination of both qualitative and quantitative techniques; this is noted by Coviello et al. (1997) and Coviello (2005), who address the call for research into relational strength. As such, a case-study incorporating mixed methods would appear to be the most suitable approach for understanding networks (Coviello, 2005; Halinen & Törnroos, 2005).

The sport environment as context of the network is discussed in the next chapter, after which the methodology for investigating the research objectives is presented in Chapter Four.

Chapter Three