Frontline Participatory Behavior in Networks: Identity Work and the Corresponding Behavioral Determinations

Studies that adequately reflect on the distinctive workings of collaborative networks and, more specifically, the importance of the participatory behaviors of frontline workers are in short supply. To address this gap in the literature, this article reports on a quantitative study of the identity work tensions and corresponding behavioral determinations of a set of frontline workers from thirteen collaborative social welfare networks in Virginia. This study found some evidence that their roles as enacted inside of the boundaries of their home organizations and the associated identities may differ from or conflict with their interorganizational, boundary spanning roles and associated identities. In some instances, the resulting tensions complicated the achievement of behavioral determinations by these frontline workers that would favor the realization of a collaborative advantage.