Isomorphic Properties of Network Governance: Comparing Two Watershed Governance Initiatives in the Lake Champlain Basin Using Institutional Network Analysis

Abstract

In this paper a comparison of the two planned networks that appear in watershed planning documents for the Lake Champlain basin in 2010 One plan (2010 TMDL) was developed by a regulatory network initiated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and state legislature. The second plan (2010 OFA) was developed by a watershed partnership network spanning the governmental, nonprofit, and business sectors. This paper asks if these two planning networks reify themselves in the plans they create? The extent to which the structural and functional properties of the networks in this study are mirrored in the plans that they produce is measured. Using textual data mining techniques and institutional network analysis the authors examine measures of network centrality, develop a visual analysis of network structures and clusters, and examine statistical comparisons of the task structures found across the two planned networks.Institutional isomorphism theory is used to anticipate and explain any mirroring effects observed in the data. A comparison of policy tool identification, actor characteristics, and task structures for each plan is rendered. Findings suggest evidence of structural isomorphism, but not policy tool isomorphism occurring between the two planning regimes and possible explanations for these findings are given.