Title: Governing business networks: an analysis of micro-governance functions in an agribusiness network

Authors: Mathäus M. Freitag Dallagnol; André Luís Baumhardt Zuliani; Gabriele Girardi; Douglas Wegner

Addresses: Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, Brazil ' Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, Brazil ' Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, Brazil ' Fundação Dom Cabral – FDC, Brazil

Abstract: This study investigates how governance occurs in collaborative networks based on practices of collaborative arrangements aiming to reduce gaps of how networks are governed, analysing the influence of contextual factors, functions, and practices to obtain certain results. A qualitative case study of a Brazilian agribusiness network that has worked collaboratively for over 20 years was done based on in-depth interviews and complementary data. To analyse the data, we used the content analysis technique. Results indicate that micro-governance functions and practices produce outcomes that influence the network's development, coordination activities, and performance. This implies that members believe that joining the network provides strategic, financial, relational, and social benefits that would be difficult to achieve on their own. Moreover, contextual factors regarding the relationships after the network formation, environmental factors and previous relations influence the organisation of micro-governance. Thus, the observed high commitment and incentive to engage in this network, certain functions are not used.

Keywords: inter-organisational relations; network governance; micro-governance; agribusiness; collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2022.130946

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2022 Vol.27 No.4, pp.298 - 318

Received: 20 Jul 2022
Accepted: 30 Oct 2022
Published online: 14 May 2023 *

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