Designing and managing networks: possibilities and limitations for network management

Abstract
If most decision-making processes aimed at solving societal problems have a network-like character, then a key question is how to deal with networks so that they can achieve valuable solutions to societal problems. Managing networks differs considerably from the management advice contained in organisation textbooks, and there is a large and growing literature on how to manage complex processes in networks. After a short discussion of the emergence and characteristics of networks, the article focuses both on strategies to manage processes within networks – here called ‘process management’ – and on attempts to change the characteristics of networks – here called ‘strategies of institutional design’. Finally, we consider the effects of network management and the evaluation of management strategies, and discuss some future research questions.