ERIC Number: ED061518
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1970-Sep
Pages: 21
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Goals, Organizations and Strategies of Change Agencies.
Van den Ban, A. W.; Muntjewerff, C. A.
Change agencies have to choose among a number of possible goals, such as a rapid increase in productivity or the personal development of their clients. Possible strategies include giving orders, provision of means and services, directive advice and non-directive help. The conditions under which each can be chosen and the consequences which can be expected are discussed briefly. Probably non-directive help will make the greatest contribution to the development of people. In order to be effective, a change agency should give much attention to the system of communication within the agency, and between the clients and the agents, to the motivation of the staff to work hard in the interest of the clients, to the coordination of activities within the agency and with other agencies, and to the flexibility in adjusting at changing situations. Giving orders and provision of means and services requires probably a rather hierarchical structure, whereas non-directive help can best be given by an organization with a participative pattern of leadership. One study found, however, that agents under authoritarian leadership are more willing to listen to their clients. The effects of different patterns of leadership in various cultures require further research. (Author/DB)
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Note: Paper presented at the World Congress of Sociology (7th, Varna, Bulgaria, September 1970)