Foster-Fishman P G, Salem D A, Allen N A, Fahrbach K
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1117, USA.
Am J Community Psychol. 2001 Dec;29(6):875-905. doi: 10.1023/A:1012915631956.
In an attempt to promote service delivery integration and improve interorganizational collaboration, many recent human service delivery initiatives have included the development of interorganizational alliances such as coalitions and coordinating councils. Despite their popularity, little is known about how these alliances influence interorganizational collaboration, specifically the extent to which they alter the interactions among human service delivery organizations. The present study examined the interorganizational interactions, specifically the exchange relationships, within one county that was implementing two interorganizational alliances--a countywide coordinating council and interagency service delivery teams. Membership on both alliances was associated with broader interorganizational exchange networks. Organizations involved in a coordinating council were more likely to be included in client, information, and resource exchanges, and participate in joint ventures with a broader range of organizations. Providers involved in interagency teams also exchanged clients and information with a broader sector of service delivery organizations than nonparticipating providers. Observational data suggested that both alliances created structures and processes intended to facilitate interorganizational exchanges. Together, these results suggest that the development of opportunities for and encouragement of staff and leader involvement in these types of alliances may be an important part of our attempt to create a more integrated social service delivery system. The implications of these findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed.
为了促进服务提供的整合并改善组织间的协作，最近许多人类服务提供倡议都包括了发展诸如联盟和协调委员会等组织间联盟。尽管它们很受欢迎，但对于这些联盟如何影响组织间协作，特别是它们在多大程度上改变人类服务提供组织之间的互动，人们却知之甚少。本研究考察了一个正在实施两个组织间联盟（一个全县范围的协调委员会和跨部门服务提供团队）的县内的组织间互动，特别是交换关系。参与这两个联盟都与更广泛的组织间交换网络相关联。参与协调委员会的组织更有可能参与客户、信息和资源交换，并与更广泛的组织范围参与合资企业。参与跨部门团队的提供者也比未参与的提供者与更广泛的服务提供组织部门交换客户和信息。观察数据表明，这两个联盟都创建了旨在促进组织间交换的结构和流程。总之，这些结果表明，为员工和领导者参与这类联盟创造机会并给予鼓励，可能是我们创建一个更整合的社会服务提供系统努力的重要组成部分。讨论了这些发现对研究人员和从业者的启示。
