"In networks, the whole effort must be concentrated in communication",
says the Brazilian Participatory Budget Network consultant

In your book, you remarked that not every organization called "network" is a real network. We talk, for example, about a supermarket network, but in fact it should be called a "chain of supermarkets." Is the main feature of a network the lack of hierarchy?
For me yes, but this is a controversial opinion. For most people, network is an interconnected set of partners. But if we take this definition as true, everything would be considered a network, because everything is a set of connected points. So what defines a network is something else: the horizontality, or the lack of hierarchy. Also a pyramidal organization, with hierarchy, is a set of interconnected points, but with a specific form of interconnection. So, the main feature of a network is really it’s horizontality. In other words: network is a set of points interconnected in a horizontal way. This view has gained strength today, but it is a concept that is still under construction.

In your point of view, would a fundamental characteristic of a network be the existence of a common goal among the partners?
If we analyze under the point of view of the coordination and organization actors, the component that will be the basis for the network construction is really a shared goal. There is no sense in cooperation without a common goal. There is a network definition, which it is not in my book: network is a pattern of organization constituted of autonomous elements, interconnected in a horizontal way cooperating with each other. The idea of autonomy is precisely the idea of horizontality and no hierarchy. And they do connect only because of a common goal.

In your evaluation, what are the main challenges of a network?
The first challenge is: how to create a common goal, set this goal and keep it alive. There must be a balance between a goal broad enough to include a diverse number of actors, and specific enough to provide guidance for action. The second challenge is the management of an organization without central command. In a hierarchical organization, you solve the coordination problem by command. On the other hand, in the case of a non-hierarchical organization you cannot count on that command and control. You have to create other ways of management that are capable of maintaining the autonomy of individuals, but at the same time ensuring the effectiveness of the procedures. Decisions must be based upon agreements. The challenge, therefore, is to manage an organization without a head. How do you coordinate the actions without a central command? There are techniques and methodologies for doing this. In this case, communication is essential to help solving this problem. The third challenge is the communication itself. This is, perhaps, the biggest challenge of a network. To work without a chief, you must be able to make decisions, and decision-making is dependent on the information available. A person can only take a decision if he has sufficient information to do so. A curious thing is that in a hierarchy, in general, the top holds all the information of the process. The pyramid basis doesn’t, so it is unable to make decisions. Therefore, if every actor must make appropriate decision in accordance to the network common goal network, each one must have information about everything. In networks, you must have full communication, from everyone to everybody and about everything.

You said that communication is central to the network management, but do you also feel that communication is important to keep the network common goal?
Communication is important to operate the network projects, update the common goal, encourage participation, identify opportunities and achieve and maintain a cohesive network. I think this is not the only network prerogative, any organization depends on communication. So, in a network, the communication must be full. In network, there shouldn’t have an information controller, which gets and transfers the information. The communicative processes must be organized so that everyone can pass and everyone can get and retransmit. All the communication instruments are valid in a network.

How to use the Internet tool?
I want to reinforce the idea that communication is the key, the strategic network process. All our efforts should be directed to the communication. Internet makes things easier, but it is not the solution to all our problems. Fortunately, today we have this technological tool that is able to establish important points and flows of communication, regardless of place, time and money. Perhaps the most effective tool in internet is the e-mail. There is a specific mail type that is the mailing list, also called discussion group or forum. This system simulates a presencial situation at class or auditorium. When one talks all listen, allowing everyone to speak to each other. Hence, in situations when there is geographical distance, the Discussion Group has just become a very interesting tool. We have other valid instruments, which are sites, databases and chatting. In this sense, Internet allows us to overcome the distances, even though the ideal situation is the presencial communication. There is no better tool than face-to-face communication.

What are the main strategies to excite a network?
The network excitement is important because people join a network due to their desire. There is, before this gathering, the desire. As the will is variable, it is necessary to excite that desire. This is perhaps one specific network characteristic, witch means this is an organization that needs to be excited. One of the ways to increase participation is to have a constant communication. Another way is to interact face-to-face. To excite a network you necessarily have to organize meetings. Good techniques of animation would be an efficient communication, able to use all instruments available and, most importantly, systematic process of all types of meetings - work meetings, party meetings, meetings with all members or with few members. If you can combine meetings with interaction at distance, you can keep alive the participation. But we must be aware that it is not possible to excite the network full time. Networks face changes in participation process, this is very common.