Managerial challenges for networks and beyond

Abstract

Networks are increasingly visible in a growing number of sectors. However, as with individual companies, not all networks will succeed, but only those which are able to build and maintain their competitive edge. Dynamic changes in the business environment, especially since the turn of the century, have made it difficult to imagine a network functioning in the absence of managers. As in the case of a single company, they are the prime determinant of whether the network will succeed. Indeed, a good manager can do so more efficiently and effectively than a weak one. The goal of the paper is thus to present the major challenges facing network managers. Perceptions of managers within networks, the basic functions and competences of network managers, the roles played by managers depending on the structure (type) of the network, as well as practical research results in this area and challenges for network management, have all been described in this paper.