{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,2]],"date-time":"2025-08-02T18:03:22Z","timestamp":1754157802754,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2009,10,30]],"date-time":"2009-10-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1256860800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,10,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper aims to report \u201cpositively deviant\u201d experiences of three public sector networks seeking to enhance organizational and system level capacities. It is the authors' thesis that the knowledge base concerning the true benefits and pitfalls of networks can be captured and interpreted only through intense, ongoing learning effort embedded in practice on the ground, combined with sustained in\u2010depth observation and collaborative research.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper describes through case examples why and how different kinds of networks within different jurisdictional contexts and different organizational cultures are being used to enhance the climate for change towards better health care and improved health. The authors describe the contexts, structures, processes and impacts of three \u201cpositively deviant\u201d networks.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The network form can provide opportunity for nurturing changes and innovations within large organizational and complex system environments. This opportunity to create additional and different pathways for improved decision making and service provision comes with challenges that should be recognized.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The authors' experiences indicate that, for networks, a key component of success relates to pulling and pushing at the edges of multiple connections and boundaries in \u201cpositively deviant\u201d ways. This pushing and pulling is intrinsically evidence of organizational and intraorganizational learning \u2013 in the examples presented \u2013 for the improvement of health care and health.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>Other networks can learn from the reported experiences and add their own cases to the empirical understanding of how networks can make a difference; this in turn can help the conceptual and theoretical understanding of them.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/14777260911001635","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2009,11,7]],"date-time":"2009-11-07T07:05:38Z","timestamp":1257577538000},"page":"610-626","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Positively deviant networks: what are they and why do we need them?"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Ann","family":"Casebeer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Janice","family":"Popp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cathie","family":"Scott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b1","unstructured":"Agranoff, R. (2003), Leveraging Networks: A Guide for Public Managers Working across Organizations, IBM Center for the Business of Government, Washington, DC."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b2","unstructured":"Argyris, C. (1999), On Organizational Learning, Blackwell, Oxford."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b3","unstructured":"Birdsell, J. and Olemchuk, K. (2006), Using Health Research in Western Canada: A Scan and Assessment of Capacity, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Edmonton."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b4","unstructured":"Birdsell, J.M. and O'Connell, P. (2003), \u201cThe impact of SEARCH on participating organizations: evaluation report\u201d, Applied Health Research Programs, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, available at: www.ahfmr.ab.ca\/publications.html."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bradley, E.H., Curry, L.A., Ramanadhan, S., Rowe, L., Nembhard, I.M. and Krumholz, H.M. (2009), \u201cResearch in action: using positive deviance to improve quality of health care\u201d, Implementation Science, Vol. 4, p. 25.","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-4-25"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Casebeer, A., Huerta, T.R. and VanderPlaat, M. (2006a), \u201cRe\u2010navigating the research and practice terrain of health services networks\u201d, Healthcare Papers, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 68\u201075.","DOI":"10.12927\/hcpap..18560"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b8","unstructured":"Casebeer, A., Hayward, S., MacKean, G., Matthais, S. and Hayward, R. (2006b), \u201cSEARCH Canada: building capacity in health organizations to create and use knowledge. Evidence in action: a casebook of health services and policy research knowledge translation stories\u201d, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, pp. 27\u201032."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b6","unstructured":"Casebeer, A.L. (2007), \u201cLearning to navigate the noise of change: lessons from complex health system contexts\u201d, in Wallace, M., Fertig, M. and Scheller, E. (Eds), Managing Change in the Public Sector, Blackwell, Oxford."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b9","unstructured":"CHAPS (2004), available at: www.chaps.ucalgary.ca."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b10","unstructured":"CHSRF (2005), \u201cGlossary of knowledge exchange terms\u201d, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, available at: www.chsrf.ca\/keys\/glossary_e.php (accessed March 12, 2006)."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b11","unstructured":"Church, E. (2002), Tempered Radicals: How People Use Difference to Inspire Change at Work, Harvard School Press, Boston, MA."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Crossan, M.M., Lane, H.W. and White, R.E. (1999), \u201cAn organizational learning framework: from intuition to institution\u201d, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 24, pp. 522\u201037.","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.1999.2202135"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Estabrooks, C.A., Scott\u2010Findlay, S. and Winther, C. (2004), \u201cA nursing and allied health sciences perspective on knowledge utilization\u201d, in Lemieux\u2010Charles, L. and Champagne, F. (Eds), Using Knowledge and Evidence in Health Care: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, University of Toronto Press, Toronto, pp. 242\u201080.","DOI":"10.3138\/9781442682979-012"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b14","unstructured":"Gardner, H. (2006), Five Minds for the Future, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b15","unstructured":"Gall, V.N., Scott, C.M., Seidel, J.E., Rimmer, C. and Cole, J. (2006), \u201cBridging the knowledge gap between academia and health service providers: creating pathways for knowledge diffusion through an integrated health information system\u201d, published abstract and poster presented at CAHSPR 2006 Conference, Vancouver, September 17\u201019."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Greenhalgh, T., Robert, G., Bate, P., MacFarlane, F. and Kyriakidou, O. (2005), Diffusion of Innovations in Health Service Organizations: A Systematic Review of the Literature, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470987407"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hawe, P. and Shiell, A. (2000), \u201cSocial capital and health pormotion: a review\u201d, Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 51, pp. 871\u201085.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0277-9536(00)00067-8"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b18","unstructured":"Hill, C. (2002), Network Literature Review: Conceptualizing and Evaluating Networks, Southern Alberta Child and Youth Health Network, Calgary."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Huerta, T., Casebeer, A. and VanderPlaat, M. (2006), \u201cUsing networks to enhance health services delivery: perspectives, paradoxes, propositions\u201d, Healthcare Papers, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 10\u201026.","DOI":"10.12927\/hcpap..18551"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Huxham, C. (Ed.) (1996), Creating Collaborative Advantage, Sage Publications, London.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781446221600"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b21","unstructured":"Huxham, C. and Vangen, S. (2005), Managing to Collaborate: The Theory and Practice of Collaborative Advantage, Routledge, London."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kawachi, I., Subramanian, S.V. and Kim, D. (Eds) (2008), Social Capital and Health, Springer, New York, NY.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-0-387-71311-3"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Knight, L. (2002), \u201cNetwork learning: exploring learning by inter\u2010organizational networks\u201d, Human Relations, Vol. 55 No. 4, pp. 427\u201054.","DOI":"10.1177\/0018726702554003"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b24","unstructured":"Krebs, V. and Holley, J. (2004), \u201cBuilding sustainable communities through social network development\u201d, The Nonprofit Quarterly, Spring, pp. 46\u201053."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b25","unstructured":"Lomas, J. (1997), \u201cImproving research dissemination and uptake in the public sector: beyond the sound of one hand clapping\u201d, Advisory Committee on Health Services to the Federal\/Provincial\/Territorial Conference of Deputy Ministers."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b26","unstructured":"McPherson, C. (2003), \u201cEvaluating child health networks: the Canadian context\u201d, paper delivered at the World Child Health Congress. Vancouver."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McPherson, C., Popp, J. and Lindstrom, R. (2006), \u201cReexamining the paradox of structure: a child health network perspective\u201d, Healthcare Papers, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 46\u201052.","DOI":"10.12927\/hcpap.2006.18557"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b28","unstructured":"Milward, H.B. and Provan, K.G. (2006), A Manager's Guide to Choosing and Using Collaborative Networks, IBM Center for the Business of Government, Washington, DC."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mowat, D.L. and Hockin, J. (2002), \u201cBuilding capacity in evidence\u2010based public health practice\u201d, Canadian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 93 No. 1, pp. 19\u201020.","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03404411"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moynihan, D. (2005), Leveraging Collaborative Networks in Infrequent Emergency Situations, IBM Center for the Business of Government, Washington, DC.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.3508158"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"O'Toole, L.J. Jr (1997), \u201cTreating networks seriously: practical and research\u2010based agendas in public administration\u201d, Public Administration Review, Vol. 57 No. 1, pp. 45\u201052.","DOI":"10.2307\/976691"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pablo, A.L., Reay, T., Dewald, J.R. and Casebeer, A.L. (2007), \u201cIdentifying, enabling and managing dynamic capabilities in the public sector\u201d, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 44 No. 5, pp. 687\u2010708.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6486.2006.00675.x"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b33","unstructured":"Patton, M.Q. (2008), Utilization Focused Evaluation, 4th ed., Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b34","unstructured":"Popp, J.K., L'Heureux, L.N. and Dolinski, C.M. (2005), \u201cHow do you evaluate a network? A Canadian child and youth health network experience\u201d, Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 123\u201050."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Provan, K.G. and Milward, H.B. (1995), \u201cA preliminary theory of network effectiveness: a comparative study of four community mental health systems\u201d, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 40, pp. 1\u201033.","DOI":"10.2307\/2393698"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Provan, K.G. and Milward, H.B. (2001), \u201cDo networks really work? A framework for evaluating public sector organizational networks\u201d, Public Administration Review, Vol. 61, pp. 400\u20109.","DOI":"10.1111\/0033-3352.00045"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Provan, K.G., Fish, A. and Sydow, J. (2007), \u201cInterorganizational networks at the network level: a review of the empirical literature on whole networks\u201d, Journal of Management, Vol. 33 No. 3, p. 479.","DOI":"10.1177\/0149206307302554"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Quinn, R.E. (2004), Building the Bridge as You Walk on It: A Guide for Leading Change, John Wiley & Sons, San Francisco, CA.","DOI":"10.1002\/ltl.97"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b39","unstructured":"RSREC (2005), Calgary Health Region Strategic Framework for Research, Regional Strategic Research and Evaluation Council (RSREC), Calgary."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b40","unstructured":"SACYHN (2004), Child and Youth Health Networks: A National Survey, Southern Alberta Child and Youth Health Network (SACYHN), Calgary."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scott, C.M. and Hofmeyer, A.T. (2007), \u201cNetworks and social capital: a relational approach to primary healthcare reform\u201d, Health Research Policy and Systems, Vol. 5 No. 9, available at: www.health\u2010policy\u2010systems.com\/content\/5\/1\/9 (accessed September 30).","DOI":"10.1186\/1478-4505-5-9"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b42","unstructured":"Scott, C.M., Curran, J., Gall, V.N., Seidel, J.E., MacKay, E. and Rimmer, C. (2006), \u201cA network approach to knowledge exchange in health systems\u201d, published abstract and poster presented at CAHSPR 2006 Conference, Vancouver, September 17\u201019."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Soekijad, M., Huis in't Veld, M. and Enserink, B. (2004), \u201cLearning and knowledge processes in inter\u2010organizational communities of practice\u201d, Knowledge and Process Management, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 3\u201012.","DOI":"10.1002\/kpm.191"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b44","unstructured":"Stake, R.E. (1995), The Art of Case Study Research, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b45","unstructured":"Wasserman, S. and Faust, K. (1984), Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Weiss, E., Anderson, R.M. and Lasker, R. (2002), \u201cMaking the most of collaboration: exploring the relationship between partnership synergy and partnership functioning\u201d, Health Education and Behavior, Vol. 29 No. 6.","DOI":"10.1177\/109019802237938"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b47","unstructured":"Wellever, A. (2001), Networking for Rural Health: Shared Services: The Foundation of Collaboration, Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy, Washington, DC."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wenger, E.C. (1998), Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning and Identity, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511803932"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b49","unstructured":"Wenger, E.C. and Snyder, W.M. (2000), \u201cCommunities of practice: the organizational frontier\u201d, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 78 No. 1, pp. 139\u201045."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Westrum, R. (2004), \u201cA typology of organizational cultures\u201d, Quality and Safety in Health Care, Vol. 13, pp. 22\u20107.","DOI":"10.1136\/qshc.2003.009522"},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b51","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (1993), Application of Case Study Research, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA."},{"key":"key2022031020401481500_b52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zahre, S.A. and George, G. (2002), \u201cAbsorptive capacity: a review, reconceptualization, and extension\u201d, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 185\u2010203.","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.2002.6587995"}],"container-title":["Journal of Health Organization and Management"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/14777260911001635","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/14777260911001635\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/14777260911001635\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:20:40Z","timestamp":1753402840000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jhom\/article\/23\/6\/610-626\/214040"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"P.","family":"Hyde","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2009,10,30]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,10,30]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/14777260911001635"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/14777260911001635","relation":{},"ISSN":["1477-7266"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"1477-7266"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2009,10,30]]}}}