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Desperately Seeking Selznick: Cooptation and the Dark Side of Public Management in Networks
Author(s) -
O'Toole Laurence J.,
Meier Kenneth J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
public administration review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.721
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1540-6210
pISSN - 0033-3352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2004.00415.x
Subject(s) - great rift , argument (complex analysis) , politics , work (physics) , point (geometry) , public relations , public sector , business , sociology , political science , law , engineering , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , geometry , mathematics , astronomy
Most literature on public‐sector networks focuses on how to build and manage systems and ignores the political problems that networks can create for organizations. This article argues that individual network nodes can work to bias the organization's actions in ways that benefit the organization's more advantaged clientele. The argument is supported by an analysis of performance data from 500 organizations over a five‐year period. A classic theoretical point is supported in a systematic empirical investigation. While networks can greatly benefit the organization, they have a dark side that managers and scholars need to consider more seriously.