Self-Governed Interorganizational Networks for Social Change
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Self-Governed Interorganizational Networks for Social Change: A Case Study of the Criminalization of Online Sexual Grooming in Malaysia Keren Acevedo Rachel Kuilan Main field of study - Leadership and Organization Degree of Master of Arts (60 Credits) with a Major in Leadership and Organization (One-Year) Master Thesis with a focus on Leadership and Organization for Sustainability (OL646E), 15 Credits Spring 2019 Supervisor: Chiara Vitrano Thesis title: Self-Governed Interorganizational Networks for Social Change: A Case Study of the Criminalization of Online Sexual Grooming in Malaysia Authors: Keren Acevedo, Rachel Kuilan Main field of study - Leadership and Organization Degree of Master of Arts (60 Credits) with a Major in Leadership and Organization (One-Year) Master Thesis with a focus on Leadership and Organization for Sustainability (OL646E), 15 Credits Spring 2019 Supervisor: Chiara Vitrano Abstract Cross-sector collaborations in the form of self-organized interorganizational networks are key mechanisms to address complex social sustainability problems in a systematic manner with accelerated and effective results. Self-organized interorganizational networks allow for collaborations through low degrees of hierarchy and bureaucracy while achieving high levels of ownership and commitment among member organizations. These type of networks have proven useful to achieve policy reforms to tackle societal problems related to rapid evolving and internet related crimes affecting children. This study analyses the initial conditions and emergence of self-organized interorganizational networks, as well as the structural arrangements and governance structures that facilitate the network organization. To do so, the authors used as case study the criminalization of online sexual grooming in Malaysia that resulted in the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. The analysis of the case was conducted through a qualitative thematic analysis based on semi-structured interviews to 11 leaders of some of the organizations that collaborated by producing public awareness, educating about the implications of this type of crime, and simultaneously, drafting and passing the new law. The results of the study showed that the network in Malaysia was formed and organized organically through a combination of informal and formal methods and structures guided by a high sense of shared purpose and shared leadership. Keywords: self-organization, interorganizational networks, cross-sector collaborations, governance structure, criminalization, online sexual grooming, social sustainability Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Previous Research 2 1.3 Problem Statement and Aim of the Study 2 1.4 Layout 3 2. Theoretical Background 4 2.1 Interorganizational Network Governance Structures 4 2.1.1 Formation of Interorganizational Networks for Cross-Sector Collaboration 4 2.1.2 Organization of Interorganizational Networks for Cross-Sector Collaboration 5 2.2 Kotter’s 8 Steps for Change 7 3. Research Design 9 3.1 Qualitative Case Study as a Research Method 9 3.2 Data Collection 9 3.3 Data Analysis 11 3.4 Reliability and Validity 12 4. Object of Study 13 4.1 The Online Sexual Grooming Process 13 4.2 Criminalization as Mechanism for Prevention of Online Sexual Grooming 13 4.3 Criminalization of Online Sexual Grooming in Malaysia as a Case Study 14 5. Analysis 16 5.1 Network Formation 16 5.1.1 Initial Conditions 16 5.1.2 Methods of Emergence 18 5.2 Network Organization 20 5.2.1 Structural Arrangements 20 5.2.2 Governance Structure 23 5.3 Additional Themes 24 5.3.1 Iterative Process for Legislation 24 5.3.2 Operationalization of New Laws 25 6. Discussion 27 6.1 Discussion on how effective collaborations for social change can be formed and organized 27 6.2 Discussion on how actors in a network for social change interact and relate to each other 28 6.3 Justification and Relevance of Study Findings 29 6.4 Discussion of Limitations 29 6.5 Implications for Southeast Asia and the Pacific 30 7. Conclusion 32 References i Appendix 1 vi Appendix 2 ix Appendix 3 xi List of Figures Figure 1: Theoretical conceptual framework to study the formation and organization of interorganizational networks ....................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2: Type of emergence of the different relationships in the interorganizational network in charge of the criminalization of OSG in Malaysia ......................................................................19 Figure 3: Structural arrangements of the different relationships in the interorganizational network in charge of the criminalization of OSG in Malaysia ..................................................................21 Figure 4: Governance structures of the different relationships in the interorganizational network in charge of the criminalization of OSG in Malaysia ..................................................................23 List of Tables Table 1: List of participants involved in the interview process per organization including size in numbers of employees ..............................................................................................................11 Table 2: Summary of roles played by key partners in the interorganizational network in charge of the criminalization of OSG in Malaysia ......................................................................................22 List of Abbreviations NAO – Network Administrator Organization NGO – Non-Governmental Organization OSG – Online Sexual Grooming 1. Introduction 1.1 Background In order to overcome the complexity arising from sustainability challenges, cross-sector collaborations are needed to bring about change in a systematic way. Such collaborations can support in generating reform movements to address gender equality issues or providing justice for marginalized groups, among other social problems. These multi-actor collaborations, also known as interorganizational networks (Stone, Crosby & Bryson, 2010), are needed to produce efforts that typically exceed the capacity of a singular organization (Clarke & Fuller, 2010). Engaging multiple stakeholders allows for the integration of various perspectives and resources that, when combined with the increasing rate of technology advances, can support in quickly iterating and adapting to address the challenges (Becker & Smith, 2018). Interorganizational networks that serve as cross-sector collaborations bring together players from the public, private, and voluntary sectors towards a common goal, using processes, structures, and strategies to build a legitimate governance (Bryson, Crosby, & Stone, 2015). Contrary to formal development of collaborative governance, which uses careful advanced articulation and designation of roles and responsibilities, in an emergent or self-organized development, the “understanding of mission, goals, roles, and action steps emerges over time as conversations encompass a broader network of involved and affected parties and as the need for methods becomes apparent” (Bryson et al., 2015, p. 653). Hierarchy of self-organized collaborations tends to be more horizontal, in that all involved parties apply shared leadership (Fosler, 2002). Because these informal types of collective management are often not characterized by one party imposing control over others, decision making processes are shared among all parties involved (Thomson & Perry, 2006). Since partners in self-organized informal networks share a higher commitment towards resolving challenges requiring collaborative action, they are more willing to align their agendas towards a common objective, surrender autonomy and allocate resources equally (Thomson & Perry, 2006). Self-organized interorganizational networks can support in advancing social sustainable development by providing an accelerated platform where leaders can push transformational agendas without necessarily requiring contract-based partnerships. This type of network can also be used in an informal and temporary way to leverage political and socioeconomic circumstances to create new policies and achieve social changes, as was the case of the criminalization of online sexual grooming in Malaysia, presented in this study. Online sexual grooming (OSG) is the process by which an adult builds a relationship with a child, significant adults close to the child, and the environment through the internet to facilitate online or offline sexual contact with the child (Molonay, 2018; Whittle, Hamilton-Giachritsis & Beech, 2015). OSG not only represents a type of child violence and abuse, but it also constitutes gender and legal inequality issues. According to a 2015 US study about OSG by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), “the majority of reported child victims were girls (78%) while 14% were boys (for 9% of reports, gender could not be determined” (NCMEC, 2017, p. 1). In addition, as of 2017, only 63 out 196 1 countries had laws regarding OSG of children (NCMEC, 2017, p. 7), being Malaysia one of the 63 countries after passing the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. Since 2016, various public, private and advocacy organizations in Malaysia collaborated to criminalize and combat OSG driven mainly by the sense of urgency generated after the case of Richard Huckle was brought to light. Richard Huckle, described by British authorities as Britain’s worst pedophile, posed as a volunteer in local communities in Malaysia while sexually grooming and abusing hundreds