In the Case of GO Virginia: Exploring Early Leadership for Collaborative Advantage in Regional Networks

In the Case of GO Virginia: Exploring Early Leadership for Collaborative Advantage in Regional Networks

Brian C. Smith | 2018

Abstract

This qualitative study explored expectations for leadership in early phase organizing of regional networks in the case of a statewide initiative called GO Virginia. Archival and observational data were used, as well as interview data from individual and group interviews with 48 participants. Leaning on theory posited by Huxham and Vangen (2005), this study contributes to the limited stream of research into leadership in collaborative regional network settings by uniquely maintaining a referent focus on the regional level while exploring expectations across levels (state and regional) and sectors (private, public, and nonprofit) involved. No significant variations in expected regional network leadership attributes and behaviors, which are reported at both individual and group levels, were discovered. Data substantiated case-specific contextual features that were largely top-down in nature and influenced conditions and expectations for leadership vis-à-vis primary activities and structures, processes, and participants. Notwithstanding the importance of structuration, this study lent support for viewing leadership as socially grounded phenomena in which, given characteristics of multiorganizational, multisector network settings that are profiled in this study, ethical leadership and the use of highly participative, dialogical group processes and values-based perspectives are particularly important.