Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:25:01.636Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Organizing for Influence: The Relationship of Structure to Impact

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Sheila M. Neysmith
Sheila M. Neysmith
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This case study is an analysis of a mandated municipal senior's group. Earlier work has suggested that variability in effectiveness is related to organizational structures, external forces and the level of institutional change sought.

In this study information was obtained on the political, economic and social context within which the group operated; its organizational composition and structure; its objectives and strategies employed to achieve these; and resources available to the group. Outcome was assessed in terms of impact on programs, resource allocation, policy statements, changes in the definition of issues, and influence on decision makers. Data collection methods included non-participant observation; taped interviews with group members and leaders; key informants in the community; and content analysis of written committee documents.

Résumé analytique

Cette étude de cas est une analyse d'un groupe municipal désigné de gens âgés. Certains travaux antérieurs suggèrent quele degré d'efficacité est relié à la structure organisationnelle, aux forces extrinsèques et au niveau de changement institutionnel désiré.

L'auteur a recueilli diverses données sur le contexte politique, économique et social dans lequel le groupe fonctionnait; sa composition et sa structure organisationnelles; les objectifs et les stratégies utilisées pour les rejoindre; la gamme de ressources à la disposition du groupe. Les résultats sont mesurés en fonction de l'impact créé sur les programmes, la répartition des ressources, les déclarations de principes, les modifications au niveau des définitions de problèmes et l'influence exercée sur les législateurs. Parmi les méthodes employées pour recueillir les données, on retrouve: des observations émises par des non-participants; des entrevues enrégistrées auprès des membres du groupe et de ses dirigeants; des sources importantes au sein de la communaute; et des analyses du contenu de documents rédigés par divers comités.

La discussion est centrée sur l'importance et les limitations de la participation communautaire en général, et en particulier la composition du groupe chargé d'effectuer un changement dans la société. L'importance de la structure est discuté dans le contexte des années 80, une époque où il ne convient plus d'assumer que le climat social positif d'autrefois qui facilitait l'adoption de bénéfices pour les gens âgés existe encore.

Keywords

seniors' organizationsadvocacy
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , Summer/l'été 1987 , pp. 105 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bacharach, S. and Lawler, E. (1980). Power and Politics in Organizations. San Francisco, Caligornia: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Butcher, H., Collis, P., Glen, A.Sillis, P. (1980). Community Groups in Action: Case Studies and Analysis. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Estes, C. (1979). The Aging Enterprise. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Estes, C., Gerard, L., Jones, J.S., Swan, J. (1984). Political Economy, Health and Aging. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.Google Scholar
Estes, C., Newcomer, R., and Associates (1983). Fiscal Austerity and Aging: Shifting Government Responsibility for the Elderly. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Evans, R. (1984). Strained Mercy: The Economics of Canadian Health Care. Toronto: Butterworth and Company.Google Scholar
Finch, J. (1984). Community Care: Developing Non-Sexist Alternatives. Critical Social Policy. IX: 6–18.Google Scholar
Gifford, G.A Manuscript in process on senior advocacy groups across Canada. Halifax, Nova Scotia.Google Scholar
Gittell, M. (1980). Limits to Citizen Participation: The Decline of Community Organizations. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Guillemard, A.M., editor (1983). Age or Need: Public Policies for Older People. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
House, E. (1980). Evaluating with Validity. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Liebert, R. and Imershein, A., editors (1977). Power, Paradigms and Community Research. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Mason, R. (1982). Participatory and Workplace Democracy. Illinois: Southern Illinois University Pres..Google Scholar
Myles, J. (1984). Old Age and the Welfare State: The Political Economy of Public Pensions. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.Google Scholar
Neugarten, B., editor (1982). Age or Need: Public Policies for Older People. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Pateman, C. (1970). Participation and Democratic Theory. Oxford: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pratt, H. (1983). Aging in Canada—the Challenge of Political Science.Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology,Moncton, New Brunswick,October20–23.Google Scholar
Richardson, A. (1983). Participation. London: Roudedge and Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Riger, S. (1984). Vehicles for Empowerment: The Case of Feminist Movement Organizations. Prevention in Human Services, II (2/3): 99–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, A. (1982). Canadian Housing Policies: 1935–1980. Toronto: Butterworth and Company.Google Scholar
Smith, R. and Manning, P. (editors) (1982). Qualitative Methods. Volume 2 of Handbook of Social Science Methods. Cambridge, Mass.: Ballinger Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Special Council Committee on Seniors. Minutes, correspondence, reports and other documentation. November 1983–December 1984. Vancouver, Canada.Google Scholar
Vancouver City Council, Proposal for a Special Council Committee on Seniors. July 22, 1983.Google Scholar
Walker, A. (1984). Social Planning: A Strategy for a Socialist Welfare. London: Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar