The Leadership for a Networked World (LNW) Program helps leaders to understand and respond to the next wave of innovation and change being driven by digital information and networked organizational models. Founded in 1987 by Dr. Jerry Mechling of Harvard Kennedy School and led by Dr. David Ager of Harvard University’s Department of Sociology, the LNW Program taps diverse knowledge across the Harvard community for uniquely powerful degree courses, executive programs, research, teaching cases and publications.

Current research efforts are focused on the “cross-boundary” challenge of changes operating across traditional organizational boundaries – departments, jurisdictions, branches of government, and sectors of the economy. Cross-boundary reforms represent the next wave of the enormous opportunities and challenges opened up by information technology and networked organizational models.

Leading successfully in this networked world requires elected officials, general managers, and technology managers to collectively make difficult decisions and choices about the level and pace of reform and change. By bringing together leading practitioners, academics, executives and degree students to share ideas and learn about e-governance, the LNW Program strives to deliver lasting public value for pressing challenges.