title: An organizational typology for self-help groups.
abstract: Those investigating the nature and functioning of self-help groups have been handicapped by the lack of a conceptual framework to bridge the diversity among such groups as well as to clarify the boundaries between consumer-owned and professionally owned groups. This paper describes a typology that classifies local units of these groups in terms of differences and similarities in their organizational structures. Rooted in organizational theory, it has two dimensions: external dependence upon resources and internal extent of experiential authority. Using it, the authors identified five types of groups, referred to as Unaffiliated, Federated, Affiliated, Hybrid, and Managed. The typology was validated with actual groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Borkman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006126:Group Processes; D006127:Group Structure; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment