Developing Social Capital in Networked Governance Initiatives: A lock-step approach

The report argues that solving complex policy problems requires networked governance, which depends on the accumulation of social capital (trust, mutuality, and reciprocity) and collective cognition (shared mental models and relational skills). It introduces a four-stage 'lock-step' approach: network architecture, preparing the grounds, collaborative visioning, and reflexive governance. Each stage requires a higher threshold of social capital than the previous one. The authors detail methods to enhance this capital, including institutional brokering via bridging organizations, social learning techniques such as hexagon modelling and card sorting, and collaborative visioning to achieve strategic alignment. The framework emphasizes that organizational innovation (building social capital) is a prerequisite for institutional innovation (policy and governance outcomes).

• Networked governance is most effective for complex problems that span multiple administrative boundaries and fragmented institutions, where polycentric arrangements allow diverse actors to integrate distributed capacities for collective problem solving.
• Social capital is defined as the 'fabric of trust, shared values and understanding' and is categorized into three levels: micro (individual propensity to cooperate), meso (structures enabling cooperation), and macro (environmental and political conditions).
• The proposed 'lock-step' framework consists of four sequential stages, each demanding more social capital than the last: (1) network architecture, (2) preparing the grounds, (3) collaborative visioning, and (4) reflexive governance.
• Institutional brokering, facilitated by bridging organizations and networking leadership, is essential for bridging 'structural holes' between disconnected groups to move knowledge and create innovative solutions.
• Social learning and knowledge sharing are used to build collective cognition. Specific tools mentioned include hexagon modelling for eliciting ontological knowledge, card-sorting for soft data on actor interactions, and role-playing games to understand interdependence.
• Collaborative visioning is the process of creating strategic alignment and shared visions of the future, which allows the network to create shared value and move toward reflexive governance.
• Reflexive governance is the final stage where a network surpasses the 'efficacy frontier' to explore, innovate, select, and implement policy options in a reflexive manner.
• Stakeholder analysis can be either normative (emphasizing legitimacy and empowerment) or instrumental (focused on managing behavior to achieve outcomes), and can be used participatively to foster social learning.
• The report identifies a reciprocal relationship where constructive interaction depends on existing social capital, and the further development of social capital depends on constructive interaction.

APA

Huppé, G. A., & Creech, H. (2012). Developing Social Capital in Networked Governance Initiatives: A lock-step approach. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/developing_social_capital_network_gov.pdf

Chicago

Huppé, Gabriel A., and Heather Creech. Developing Social Capital in Networked Governance Initiatives: A lock-step approach. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/developing_social_capital_network_gov.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Huppé |first1=Gabriel A. |last2=Creech |first2=Heather |title=Developing Social Capital in Networked Governance Initiatives: A lock-step approach |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/developing_social_capital_network_gov.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hupp2012developing, author = {Huppé, Gabriel A. and Creech, Heather}, title = {{Developing Social Capital in Networked Governance Initiatives: A lock-step approach}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/developing_social_capital_network_gov.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }