Schools of government and training networks in the public sector: methodological perspectives for governance

This theoretical article proposes methodological guidelines to analyze training networks in the public sector as well as to develop governance and management mechanisms to improve its effectiveness. Current personnel development policies in the federal government have been attributing a greater role to schools of government in the articulation and coordination of training networks. However, difficulties for the attainment of such integration objectives denote the need for improvement of currently adopted governance models. The present article adopts theoretical perspectives from social network analysis, human resource development and policy networks management to design management methods and tools for the federal human resource development network. The reference literature rarely addresses the analysis of complete interorganizational networks or issues related to public personnel development. In a context of a predominantly theoretical and exploratory literature, the present article advances by presenting a macro-analytic model for the relational patterns developed by public organizations, referring to their exchanges of knowledge and resources through formal training activities. From a practical point of view, the proposed model aims to subsidize the improvement of training policies and their governance mechanisms used by public organizations, central government agencies and schools of government, aiming at greater effectiveness of personnel development activities in public administration.