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."