Changing bureaucracies : understanding the organization before selecting the approach / William A. Medina.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Medina, William Antonio, 1935-

Series:

Public administration and public policy ; 11.

Public administration and public policy ; 11

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Organizational change.

Public administration.

Bureaucracy--United States.

Bureaucracy.

United States.

Physical Description:

xi, 140 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : M. Dekker, [1982]

Summary:

This conceptual work addresses organizations' responses to management improvement efforts, offering a practical approach for ensuring desired results when making improvements in managing organizations. In examinations of three methodologies for organizational improvement -- strategic planning, management by objective, and executive development -- this exceptional book analyzes the critical factors that influence change. The ground-breaking hypothesis evolved from this research affords executives rational means for planning changes in their organizations. Changing Bureaucracies: Understanding the Organization Before Selecting the Approach will be invaluable to management personnel in federal, state, and local governments, as well as executives in the private business sector. In addition, senior undergraduate and graduate level students of public administration, political science, government, business administration, and economics will gain vital insights into successful approaches to organizational changes.

Contents:

1. Administrative Leadership and Management Improvement 1

The President as Chief Administrator 4

Management Improvement Sponsors 9

2. Theoretical Framework 23

Causes of Organizational Change 23

Power and Administration 26

Purpose of Change 27

The Dynamics of Change 28

Change Choices: Introduction of Change 29

Models of Change 36

Critique of Change Literature 37

3. Sponsor's Change Efforts 41

Scope of the Technology and Change Effort 42

Change Strategy 48

Nature and Strength of Cues 53

Potential Consequences of the Sponsor 56

Character of the Sponsor Staff 58

Consistency and Unity of Sponsor's Change Effort 59

4. Administrators' Responses 67

Management Ethic in Place 68

Perceived and Actual Impact on Existing Power Relationships 71

Felt Need 73

Priorities 75

Appropriateness of the Technology 76

Amount of Knowledge 79

Strength of Ownership in Another Process 82

Self-Interest 84

Consequences for Compliance or Noncompliance 88

Perceptions of the Internal Staff 92

5. Factors Affecting Beneficiaries' Responses to Management Improvement Approaches 100

Willingness of the President to Use the Approaches' Products 101

Willingness of BOB/OMB to Use the Approaches' Products 103

Willingness of Department and Agency Heads to Use the Approaches' Products 104

Willingness of the Bureau Heads to Use the Approaches' Products 106

The Strength of the Competing Priorities and Consequences for the Beneficiaries 108

Tenure of the Beneficiaries 110

6. Change Theories and Practical Strategies 115

Response Theory Summarized 115

How the Factors Work 117

Change Strategies 118

The President and Management Improvement 125

Significant Implications of the Intersystem Model 127

Applied Research Needed 128.

Notes:

Includes index.

Bibliography: pages 131-136.

ISBN:

0824716728

OCLC:

8475066