Tips: How to manage problems with your networks
To make sure your networks give you the best support for your governance, here are some potential problems to watch out for, and some tips for how to address them.
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Network governance problem |
Tips |
| Making decisions. Some networks aim to reach consensus decisions—that is, all parties agreeing. But sometimes a single party may disagree, stopping a decision being made or later undermining it. |
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| Becoming complacent. Networks can run the risk of becoming complacent, operating only in their comfort zone. They may also become bureaucratic and inflexible. |
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| Accountability can become dispersed. Accountability may become more difficult to monitor in large networks because decisions are made at many different points. Large networks are also more likely to lose touch with outlying members. |
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| Acquiring new skills. Setting up new partnerships may require entirely new skills and knowledge, or may come up against resistance from the existing network. |
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| Becoming competitive. Networks between groups or organisations with similar functions, memberships and funding sources may become competitive rather than collaborative. |
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| Losing control. Leaders and managers risk losing control of their own agenda if key stakeholders in your network—government, non-government organisations or industry groups—have different ideas and priorities. |
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