Modular Network Governance: A Conceptual Framework for Addressing Complex Social Problems

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework for developing social innovation competencies in social sciences within the agenda of the Relational University. It explores the educational strategy promoted by the Social Innovation Excubator (SIE), an experimental social sciences lab that provides students with a work-based learning scenario focusing on the solution of social problems. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper explores a new learning strategy to promote the Relational University. This exploration designs an experimental infrastructure named SIE. This infrastructure promotes the link between work-based learning and social innovation to develop four key competencies: heuristic, epistemic, relational and experimental skills. Findings There is little attention in the literature about work-based learning and social innovation. The conceptual framework provides a program on Social Innovation Capitalization (SIC) in the framework of the SIE. This framework provides a process of four phases to prototype social innovations: exploration, experimentation, exploitation and evaluation as a process to boost social innovation skills. Research limitations/implications The conceptual framework of Relational University is an innovative and integrative model (companies, social organizations, public sector and civil society) that develops a work-based learning strategy through SIE infrastructure. The SIE has a strong implication for social sciences developing an experimental space to explore, exploit and evaluate local social problems. Practical implications The SIE infrastructure and the SIC program promotes a new strategy in social sciences to boost employability (new competencies), entrepreneurship (pilot social organizations) and intra-entrepreneurship (social innovation in organizations). Originality/value This paper proposes a conceptual and empirical framework to develop the Relational University through a new learning strategy linking work-based learning and social innovation. This practical framework covers a lack in the work-based learning perspective opening a new line of research linked to social innovation.

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Globalisation and social work education in the Republic of Ireland: Towards informed transnational social work for transnational problems such as COVID-19

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/0020872820930804 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 524-537

Author(s):

Susan Flynn

Keyword(s):

Social Work ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Social Work Education ◽

Social Problems ◽

Global Awareness ◽

Republic Of Ireland ◽

The Republic ◽

Work Education

Critically informed commentary is employed to examine globalisation and social work education in the Republic of Ireland. This is extended in analysis by a tripartite conceptual framework. The emphasis is on preparing practitioners for transnational practice, in response to global social interdependencies and transnational social problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The concern is that social work education risks being outpaced by changes imposed through intensifying globalisation. The article is timely and opportune as advances towards universalism and global interconnectedness in social work are underway. To date, the need to promote better global awareness, within Irish social work curricula, remains.

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A supply network governance framework: a case study of the South Australian mining industry

Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing ◽

10.1108/jgoss-03-2017-0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 55-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Larissa Statsenko ◽

Alex Gorod ◽

Vernon Ireland

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Network Structure ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Network Governance ◽

Supply Network ◽

Supply Networks ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Content Type

Purpose The competitiveness of mining regions largely depends on the performance of the regional supply chains that provide services to mining companies. These local supply chains are often highly intertwined and represent a regional supply network for the industry. Individual companies often use supply chain strategies that are sub-optimal to overall supply network performance. To effectively respond to an uncertain business environment, policy-makers and supply chain participants would benefit by a governance framework that would allow to incentivise the formation of supply networks structures enabling effective operations. The purpose of this paper is to offer an empirically grounded conceptual framework based on Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs) governance principles, which links network governance mechanisms with supply network structure and operational performance to incentivise the formation of adaptive and resilient supply networks in the mining industry. Design/methodology/approach A mixed method research design and a case study of the South Australian mining sector were used to collect empirical data. Qualitative interviews and network analysis of the SA mining industry regional supply network structure were conducted. The relationships between network parameters were interpreted using CAS theory. Findings An empirically grounded conceptual framework based on CAS governance principles is developed. The case study revealed that supply chain strategies and governance mechanisms in the SA mining industry have led to the formation of a hierarchical, scale-free structure with insufficient horizontal connectivity which limits the adaptability, responsiveness and resilience of the regional supply network. Research limitations/implications The findings are drawn from a single case study. This limits generalisability of the findings and the proposed framework. Practical implications The proposed framework draws the attention of the policy-makers and supply chain participants towards the need for utilising CAS governance principles to facilitate the formation of adaptive, responsive and resilient regional supply networks in the mining industry. Originality value The proposed conceptual framework is an attempt to parameterise the governance of the regional supply networks in the mining industry.

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Outsourcing and Networking: Similar Trends in Local State-NPO Cooperation in Germany and China

Nonprofit Policy Forum ◽

10.1515/npf-2020-0005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Katja Levy ◽

Anja Ketels

Keyword(s):

Local Governments ◽

Comparative Research ◽

Social Problems ◽

Network Governance ◽

Local State ◽

Top Down ◽

Research Project ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Non Profit ◽

Provision Of Services

AbstractThis paper presents results of a German-Chinese comparative research project on the provision of services by non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the field of migration. It argues that NPOs and local governments deploy similar strategies in their joint attempt to tackle social problems, regardless of their political backgrounds. From a top-down perspective German and Chinese local governments show similar outsourcing modes, while from a bottom-up perspective NPOs show similar practices of network governance.

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Modular Interorganizational Network Governance: A Conceptual Framework for Addressing Complex Social Problems

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su131810292 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (18) ◽

pp. 10292

Author(s):

Srivardhini K. Jha ◽

E. Richard Gold ◽

Laurette Dubé

Keyword(s):

Social Problems ◽

Network Formation ◽

Adaptive System ◽

Social Systems ◽

Network Governance ◽

Problem Definition ◽

Interorganizational Network ◽

Governance Framework ◽

Solution Design ◽

Theoretical Foundations

We develop a conceptual governance framework to guide creating and managing a modular interorganizational network to address complex social problems. Drawing on theoretical foundations in modularity and interorganizational networks, we propose that modularizing complex social problems is a dialectic, emergent process that blends a convener-led network formation with a consultative problem definition and solution design. We also posit that social systems are imperfectly modular and need purposefully designed interface governance to integrate the modules. Finally, we advance how leveraging modularity may simultaneously advance the interests of participating actors and deliver societal value. Together, the propositions advance a governance framework for a modular, multi-actor adaptive system suited to tackle the scale, diversity, and dynamics of complex social problems.

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A STUDY ON THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN KOREAN SAEMAEUL MOVEMENT BASED ON THE THEORY OF LOCAL NETWORK GOVERNANCE

VNU Journal of Foreign Studies ◽

10.25073/2525-2445/vnufs.4330 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Tran Huu Tri

Keyword(s):

Rural Development ◽

Development Process ◽

Social Problems ◽

Network Governance ◽

Local People ◽

Development Model ◽

Local Network ◽

Governance Network ◽

Development Movement

The article focuses on the Korean Saemaeul movement based on the theory of Local Network Governance. Network Governance, which emphasizes the role, organic collaboration between actors in solving social problems or rural development, is a very important theory to evaluate and analyze the rural development movement. As a whole, the rural development process is shaped by three main actors: the central, the local and the local people and, depending on the level of cooperation and interactions of these actors, the degree of achievement are also different. Through this paper, we hope to suggest a model of rural development in Vietnam based on the theory of Local Network Governance and the Korean Saemaeul movement.

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