Participatory management in public welfare: what are the prospects?
The author analyzes the experience of a state public welfare agency in developing a series of changes in social services using participatory techniques to involve frontline staff. Based on a survey of administrators, social service workers and supervisors, the study reveals staff attitudes toward policy innovation in the agency and their role in it. Staff unanimously want more of a voice in shaping the policies and procedures which govern their work, but efforts to secure their involvement are frequently unnoticed or unappreciated. The author identifies a number of constraints to implementing a participatory approach.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States