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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
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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

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References

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