The Influence of Network Management and Complexity on Network Performance in Taiwan, Spain and the Netherlands

Abstract

Using survey data of respondents involved in spatial planning projects in Taiwan, Spain and the Netherlands (n = 678), this article examines the influence of network management strategies and complexities (examined with regard to differences in perception of problems and solutions, and unexpected events) on perceived network performance. This theory-driven, empirical research shows that the effect of network management strategies on perceived performance is stronger than the impact of unexpected events or actors’ differences in perceptions of problems and solutions. We find this result in all the three countries. Our model explains 19.1 per cent of the variance in the perceived network performance.

Key words:

• Network performance
• network management
• network complexity
• perceptional differences

Notes

1 Hofstede developed items to measure cultural differences between countries (see http://geert-hofstede.com for information about his cultural items). In the Hofstede’s measurement, five different measurements are used: power distance (PDI), individualism (IDV), masculinity (MAS), uncertainty avoidance (UAI) and long term orientation (LTO).

2 In the Netherlands and Spain, a self-administered web survey was used. As is the practice in Taiwan, interviewers visited the interviewees in their offices, where interviewees completed survey questions.

3 Due to the fact that for some projects more than one respondent gave their perceptions, we compute the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) to determine the degree to which there is agreement the perceived network performance among respondents. ICC scores for the network performance construct, all below .38, do not suggest estimation biases due to the dependence between individuals; hence, aggregation of individual ratings is not necessary.

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge funding from the Taiwan National Science Council through grant NSC-98-2414-H-004-035-MY2.