Be careful what you ask for: Things policy-makers should know before mandating networks.
Agents of government have increasingly used networks as policy tools to connect organizations within and/or across public sector jurisdictions. This has been particularly striking in health systems across Canada. Cynics argue they are pseudo-fixes; we take a more optimistic view. We explore the unique features of mandated networks, sharing their limitations and possibilities and providing targeted messages for policy-makers considering using them, ultimately suggesting that they should "be careful what they ask for."
Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. jkpopp@ucalgary.ca.
Janice K
JK
Popp
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Ann
A
Casebeer