Managing (through) a network of collaborations: A case study on hospital executives’ work in a Dutch urbanized region

Managing inter-organizational networks has been studied extensively, yet little attention has been paid to what it means for organizations and their management to participate in multiple networks simultaneously. This study therefore explores from a management-organizational perspective how hospitals in a Dutch urbanized region process and manage a ‘network of collaborations’. We analyse the managerial strategies and activities performed to align organizational interests with the emergence of networks. While the network narrative has become dominant in public policy, this study adds empirical insights to the meaning and practice of governing in a networked environment.