Assessing the Effectiveness of Governance Networks

To which research group do you belong?

Globalisation and Development

Who is your supervisor?

Jan Froestad

What is the topic/ research question for your thesis?

Assessing the Effectiveness of Governance Networks: Do they make a Difference? A Study of Governance Networks Effectiveness in Ghana.

How did you choose the topic for your thesis?

A lot of questions caught my interest. How can the performance (effectiveness) of governance networks be assessed? And what factors may account for the overall effectiveness of a governance network? Governance networks are generally seen as innovative vehicle to address wicked problems. Governance networks are more likely to be useful in policy settings where negotiated solutions among stakeholders are seen as appropriate and necessary, and thus where technical solutions are not feasible. The underlying question, however, about the effectiveness of governance networks is whether they make a difference. That is, what value emerges from the network-based governance? However, under these conditions of negotiated processes and objectives, with complex causal pathways, the performance (effectiveness) of governance networks becomes more problematic to determine.

Evaluating the performance (effectiveness) of network-based governance arrangements is further complicated and becomes more complex because programs and policy processes and change management become more complex since networks bring to the table a diversity of stakeholder views and thus diverse perspectives about processes, goals, and outcomes. The focus of the study was to examine the sources and mechanisms of governance network performance with the view to identifying the conditions under which do we find effectiveness (success) and failure.

Is there anything extra special/ exciting about your case study?

Although many case studies have been conducted to examine the performance of governance networks as a mode of governance, predominantly, most of these studies are project related case studies and these studies have tended to mainly focus on the single cases and limited institutional analysis (i.e. evaluation based on only achievement of desired outcomes). Additionally, existing studies are limited in the sense that, they are mostly dedicated to the assessment of the performance (effectiveness) of a particular network actor, and not the overall performance of the network as a whole.

This research was conducted by means of evaluation case study using two networks in Ghana - Participatory Slum Upgrading Program (PSUP) and Ghana Responsible Mining Alliance (GRMA) in Ghana. This makes this study unique and useful, as in this research the effectiveness of the networks as a whole was the topic of interest.  And the evaluation of performance (effectiveness) considered ‘the sustainability of good processes of the networks’ (i.e. to what extent these networks are built to last) as well as ‘the achievement of desired service outcomes’ (i.e. to what extent were these networks able to provide greater benefits for disadvantaged population in society). The reason for considering both the processes and outcomes was the fact the PSUP and GRMA programs involved the creation of policies and measures through interaction by the different network actors, and the outcome of collaboration processes in the networks are more than the sum of individual actor performance.

Have you done any fieldwork? 

Yes. As part of this MPhil research, I spent a period of three months (June to August, 2014) in Accra, Ghana to collect data for my research.  This study was based on data gathered through in-depth face-to-face interviews with the main network stakeholders’, direct observations and documentary reviews. The purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents to be included in the study based on their knowledge and information about the existence, functioning and operations of the networks. To purposively select respondents for the study, the ‘snowball-technique’ was used as first step. That is, I started snowballing by interviewing some actors’ in the selected networks, and then, based on their information, I was directed to other respondents who have relevant information and knowledge about the PSUP and the GRMA networks and their activities. This was very successful procedure to identify appropriate respondents to be included in the study.

What do you think was most educational with/about the fieldwork?

I really enjoyed my time in Ghana very much despite all the ups and downs I went through booking and rescheduling appointments with my respondents. Never really being sure, whether I was actually doing the right thing or not in the field, one thing I did figure out was that it might not only be about doing everything in a perfect way right from the start or doing it perfect at all, but that it is part of the learning experience and research process to learn from the errors or missteps from previous actions. And that often even missteps led to revealing more information which were able to shed light on the research problem. I developed a critical and reflective way of thinking, trying to improve my interview and observation skills to gain the best possible result for my study.

Overall when I look back now, a few months after being back to Bergen, some things that happened seem unreal now. For instance, that I consider myself having had a lot of luck in the entire fieldwork. I had great moments with my respondents and former school mates, whom I met during my fieldwork. Yes, I do have to say it was one of the best academic experiences in my life to do my fieldwork in Ghana. And when I look at the whole entire process, I just shake my head and smile; this is me in the middle of the field interviewing respondents.

What do you consider the best part of writing your thesis?

The independent analysis of a chosen research problem as part of the MPA curriculum is very rewarding and enterprising academic exercise. The most challenging but yet considered the most interesting aspect of the study was writing the analysis chapters. It was really good experience using the theoretical assumptions contained in my theoretical framework in analyzing the empirical data collected during the fieldwork.

I enjoyed writing the analysis chapters because of the exceptional skills writing those chapters require. It was challenging but interesting when I was explaining the relations between the empirical data collected and the theoretical assumptions as well as linking the research problem to the research design I employed in conducting the study.