Type
Text
Type
Dissertation
Advisor
Morgan, Richard | Linden, Pamela | Hayward, Rachel | Esaki, Nina.
Date
2014-12-01
Keywords
Organization theory | Child Welfare, Implementation Science, Organizational Readiness for Change, Qualitative Content Analysis, Sanctuary Model
Department
Department of Social Welfare.
Language
en_US
Source
This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/11401/76783
Publisher
The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.
Format
application/pdf
Abstract
Each year, significant financial resources are expended to implement new policies and programs in an attempt to facilitate organizational change (Fleming, Culler, McCorkle, Becker, & Ballard, 2011). In 2007, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) collaborated with Andrus Center for Learning and Innovation (ACLI) to implement the Sanctuary Model of organizational change within selected voluntary residential child welfare programs that serve youth with behavioral, emotional and social challenges. Since these organizations typically have bureaucratic structures in which culture is maintained through a set of rules and regulations, change may be particularly difficult (Dickinson & Perry, 2002). Research has shown that the leading causes of unsuccessful change efforts are insufficient confidence (efficacy) and collective motivation (readiness) (Kotter, 1995; Kotter & Schlesinger, 2008). This qualitative exploratory study examined the organizational change efforts within five New York State voluntary child welfare agencies through the lens of Armenakis, Harris, and Feild (1999) five dimensions of readiness. The study aimed to validate and expand the organizational readiness for change theory which suggests that when organizational readiness is high, staff members will engage in behaviors that support change efforts and even go beyond job requirements and role expectations to ensure successful implementation (Armenakis & Harris, 2002; Weiner, Amick, & Lee, 2008). A directed content analysis was conducted and included the analysis of previously collected documents from each of the five agencies. In addition, interrater agreement was calculated to ensure reliability. Findings from this study suggest that those agencies which exhibited more elements of readiness were also more successful in implementing organizational change. In addition, the extent to which the organizations articulated vision and idealized goals was found to be essential in creating readiness. The level of interaction with a knowledgeable, dedicated mentor also significantly impacted implementation outcomes. Since the federal government has recognized readiness as an important component in the adoption of evidence-based practices, it is imperative for child welfare agencies to understand and measure organization readiness. A number of implications for social work education and practice, future research recommendations as well as policy implications are presented. | 127 pages
Recommended Citation
Allen-McCombs, Jennette, "Ready, Set, Change: An Exploratory Case Study of Readiness for Change Within Five New York State Voluntary Child Welfare Agencies" (2014). Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions). 2661.
https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/stony-brook-theses-and-dissertations-collection/2661