Delivering services via network-based partnerships.

• Author: Mamou, Najla
• Position: Book - Book Review

Governing by Network: The New Shape of the Public Sector

Published by Brookings Institution Press

www.brookings.edu

2004; 224 pages, $18.95

With increased expectations on government to provide better services with greater efficiency, many organizations are responding by outsourcing services to private and non-profit entities. But while governments are relying more heavily on networks of public, private, and non-profit organizations, only some have learned how to effectively manage these networks. The transition from direct service provider to generator of public value requires that governments abandon the traditional top-clown bureaucracy in favor of an organization model that lends itself to working with outside entities. Of course, such a model demands a new breed of government employee--one that is skilled in both traditional duties and contract management.

Learning to manage this modern approach to governing is the central message of Governing by Network, a new book by Stephen Goldsmith and William D. Eggers. Using examples from both inside and outside the United States, the authors help the reader understand the attributes of successful and unsuccessful networks and provide lessons learned for government managers who are facing or who will soon face the realities of governing by network. As the authors point out, networking and outsourcing are already common practice in the public sector: however, the scope and complexity of these networks are growing.

The trend toward governing by network has been driven in part by the realization that the one-size-fits-all model of public administration no longer meets the needs of an ever-changing and increasingly complex society. Government managers have come to understand that effective service delivery requires an understanding of the unique needs of constituents. The authors argue that networks remove the roadblocks commonly associated with the vertical hierarchies that characterize most government organizations, thus providing more focused attention to constituent needs across the network.

Goldsmith and Eggers do a nice job of summarizing the advantages and challenges of governing by network. The major advantages include specialization, innovation, speed, flexibility, and increased reach. Networks allow governments to leverage the expertise of "best of breed" providers on behalf of their constituents (specialization). Network partners help governments achieve levels of creativity and continuous...