Abstract

As the authors of the lead paper recognize, networks have become an increasingly popular form of organizing, both in the delivery of public services and within political arenas. A network is an arrangement of individuals and/or organizations that are linked through connections that range from informal relationships to formally agreed protocols. Networks have proved useful in addressing complex and intractable problems that require a holistic approach to identifying and implementing long-term solutions. They succeed in situations where hierarchies and "silo-based" systems have failed, and are particularly valuable in facilitating the transfer of resources and knowledge across sectoral and organizational boundaries.