COMBINING HIERARCHICAL AND NETWORK STRATEGIES: SUCCESSFUL CHANGES IN DUTCH SOCIAL HOUSING
| Author | HANS DE BRUIJN,HUGO PRIEMUS,JOS KOFFIJBERG |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01974.x |
| Published date | 01 March 2012 |
| Date | 01 March 2012 |
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01974.x
COMBINING HIERARCHICAL AND NETWORK
STRATEGIES: SUCCESSFUL CHANGES IN DUTCH
SOCIAL HOUSING
JOS KOFFIJBERG, HANS DE BRUIJN AND HUGO PRIEMUS
In the current times of economic turmoil, many sectors are thought to be in need of structural
reform or system overhauls, which call for political leadership, decisiveness and vision. These
kinds of challenges present governments with a dilemma. On the one hand, there is a call
for radical change while, on the other hand, the options available for such radical change are
limited by the many interdependencies of a network society. In this article, we analyse three
fundamental and structural reforms in Dutch housing. These reforms were all implemented in a
world of interdependencies. The strategies applied appear to be a mixture of unilateral, hierarchical
strategies and multilateral, network strategies. These hybrid strategies come in three forms: (1) a
combination of hierarchical and network strategies; (2) variations/alternations over time between
network strategies and hierarchical strategies; and (3) the use of one strategy in the frontstage
while the other strategy is being used backstage. Greater understanding of these types of hybrids
can help governments in dealing with the tension between interdependencies and the need for
change.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The issue: change between hierarchy and network
There are only limited options available for governments to bring about changes in
society. Any such changes must be achieved in networks of interdependencies, which
means that processes of change are often erratic and capricious (see, for example, Mayntz
1993; Rhodes 1997; Frissen 1999, 2002; Koppenjan and Klijn 2004; Teisman et al. 2009). The
multiplicity of parties with divergent views and interests and their mutual dependence
mean that unilateral, hierarchical strategies are hardly ever effective. In their place, multi-
lateral, network strategies are needed, in which interaction, consultation and negotiation
are some of the key concepts.
In these times of economic turmoil, the question of how a major change occurs in a
network context is highly relevant. In many sectors, there is a public demand for structural
reforms to be implemented by governments and an assumption that these governments
have sufficient power to do so. This raises the intriguing question of whether traditional,
unilateral hierarchical intervention can still be meaningful and effective in a network
context. The message from the studies referred to earlier is that hierarchical interventions
will not be effective in a network context. But does this mean that there is no role for
hierarchy at all? That hierarchical intervention will never contribute to effective change
in networks? A closer look at processes of major change reveals that hierarchical and
network strategies are deployed alongside each other. Is there something we might call a
‘smart’ or ‘network-proof’ hierarchical intervention? Are there effective hybrids – a blend
of elements from both approaches?
Jos Koffijberg is Head of Research at the Nicis Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands. Hans de Bruijn is Professor of
Public Administration and Hugo Priemus is Emeritus Professor of Housing, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The
Netherlands.
Public Administration Vol. 90, No. 1, 2012 (262–275)
©2011 The Authors. Public Administration ©2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ,
UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA.
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