The public administration literature has demonstrated that the manner in which a network is led is related to its effectiveness. However, why this relationship occurs and whether it is dependent on external circumstances remain unclear. Relying on Provan and Milward's framework of interorganizational network effectiveness and the neo-institutional approach to local leadership, we propose that the manner in which the local authority leads the local network is related to the network's structure, which, in turn, influences its effectiveness. We also propose that this association is contingent on the characteristics of the local authority in which the network exists. Using a sample of 586 network participants from 68 Israeli networks, we demonstrate that the degree to which the local authority is centralized explains the link between the network's leadership and its effectiveness, but only in local authorities with a high socioeconomic status (SES). In addition, we find that in Israeli Arab municipalities such centralization is counterproductive, impeding the network's effectiveness. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

中文翻译：

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通过以目的为导向的网络提高本地服务效率：网络领导和结构的作用

公共行政文献表明，网络的领导方式与其有效性有关。但是，为什么会出现这种关系以及是否它是否依赖于外部环境尚不清楚。依托普罗万和米尔沃德的组织间网络有效性框架和地方领导的新制度方法，我们提出地方当局领导地方网络的方式与网络结构有关，而网络结构反过来又影响其有效性。我们还提出，这种关联取决于网络所在的地方当局的特征。使用来自 68 个以色列网络的 586 名网络参与者的样本，我们证明地方当局的集中程度解释了网络领导力与其有效性之间的联系，但仅限于具有较高社会经济地位 (SES) 的地方当局。此外，我们发现，在以色列阿拉伯城市，这种集中化会适得其反，阻碍网络的有效性。我们讨论了这些发现的理论和实践意义。