Properties and characteristics of effective human service organizations

A systems resource model of organizational effectiveness using United Way agencies is developed. The systems resource model views effectiveness as the organizations ability to extract needed resources from the external environment. An open system perspective on organizational dynamics is expanded around a contingency theory. The contingency theory of organizations describes organizational profiles generated by interaction with the organizations environmental contingencies. It is these contingencies which develop the structural constitution of an organization. This open system contingency theory of organizations identifies six key subsystems: 1) goal and value subsystem, 2) structural subsystem, 3 technical subsystem, 4) psychosocial subsystem, 5) managerial subsystem, and 6) environmental system. To assess the effectiveness of an organization, from a systems perspective, key independent variables are measured across the six subsystems. Contingency theory holds that not only the contour of the structural constitution of an organization is determined by environmental factors, but it may be constituted in different ways. However, these different ways of constituting an organization may not be equally effective.

The criterion variable of the study is the actual dollar amount a member agency receives from the United Way. The systems resource model of effectiveness states that effective organizations are those best able to extract resources from their environment. In this case from the United Way.

The United Way and its member agencies form a political economy which allocates money and authority. The ability of a member agency to extract resources (money) from the environment of the political economy is explained in terms of power-dependence relations. The actual allocation to an agency is a function of the United Way's dependence on the agency, and the agency's dependence on the United Way. The dependent variable is explained as a function of power-dependence relations.

A multiple linear regression model is used to relate the independent variables across the six subsystems to the criterion variable. In this way subsystem configurations which contribute most to effectiveness are identified. From a contingency perspective, subsystem configurations are determined by environmental conditions. Effective organizations are those organizations which can respond to environmental conditions while optimizing their power-dependence relations to extract needed resources from the United Way political economy.

Organizational effectiveness studies have neglected small non-profit human service organizations. This study overcomes this neglect using data gathered from United Way agencies. Thirty-four United Way agencies representing six service areas are studied. Questionnaires were administered to the executive director, supervisors, board chairperson and board members. While complete data was gathered from all of these persons only a sample of five supervisors and board members were used in addition to the executive director .and board chairperson.

Complete data analysis as described in the original design was limited due to SPSS procedures handling missing values. However, multivariate regression procedures consistent with the original design was done on administrative variables. It was found that administrative motivations and controls had the strongest correlation with the dependent variable. These variables accounted for approximately 40% of the variance in the dependent variable.