models of change and the impact on organizational culture in nonprofit agencies: comparison and...

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Models of Change and the Impact on Organizational Culture in Nonprofit Agencies: Comparison and Validation of The Sanctuary Model ® Wendy M. McSparren, MSW, MS Darlene Y. Motley, Ph.D. Robert Morris University Contact information [email protected] 412-953-4151 RATIONALE Explore the construct of change and the impact change has on the organizational culture within nonprofit agencies. Specifically comparing a relatively new model, The Sanctuary Model ®, to more traditional methods of change. We examined perceptions and attitudes of staff toward change process and the resultant organizational culture. SPECIFIC AIMS Participants were identified from five different mental health/social service agencies that have experienced significant change in the past several years. • Three agencies are currently using The Sanctuary Model and two agencies are not. • Participants completed a self-report measure which incorporated measures of organizational culture and attitudes toward change. • The survey was compiled from existing measurement tools. • The independent variable of attitude toward change was measured using an 18-item, five point Likert scale questionnaire developed by Dunham, et al (1989). • The dependent variable of culture was measured METHODOLOGY The reliability scores for the sub-dimensions of both the culture and change scales were all greater than .75. There was a significant positive difference in the strength of culture in the agencies who subscribe to The Sanctuary Model than those organizations that do not. The attitude toward change for the test group (Sanctuary), while not statistically significant, was more positive than that of the control group (Non-Sanctuary). The findings of this study are a step in validating Bloom’s model of change as a viable “road map” for nonprofits toward effective cultural change that can assist in improving organizational culture and fiscal practices in the sector. This study also provides support of the use of The Sanctuary Model in positively impacting the culture within the work place as well as the idea that The Sanctuary Model can be utilized as an alternative measure of change in various types of organizations. Additionally, a strong positive culture and effective management of change can strengthen an organization in their strategic environment while leading to improved financial health, vitality, and in the end serving clients more effectively. CONCLUSIONS Contact information M[email protected] 412-262-8458 CHARACTERISTICS OF SAMPLE Funding and regulation requirements have changed at a rapid pace for the nonprofit sector and specifically within the mental health and social service systems. “Organizational stress” caused by this rapid change results in fragmentation of the systems, high turnover in staff, organizational problems, and ultimately impacts the constituents who receive services. Characteristic Frequency Percentage Type of Organization Sanctuary Non-Sanctuary Total 96 144 240 40% 60% 100% Gender Sanctuary - Male - Female Non-Sanctuary - Male - Female 20 75 56 85 21% 79% 40% 60% Race Sanctuary - Caucasian - All Others Non-Sanctuary - Caucasian - All Others 72 23 107 35 76% 24% 75% 26% Employment Status Sanctuary - Salaried - Hourly Non-Sanctuary - Salaried - Hourly 69 26 60 81 72% 27% 43% 57% REFERENCES *p < .05/**p < .01 THE SANCTUARY MODEL ® The Sanctuary Model ® initially began as a treatment model for adults who had been traumatized as children. However, the creator of this model has more recently applied the ideas to organizations as a model of change that will assist in improving processes which will enhance overall organizational performance (Bloom, 2005). The application of this model is now being directed to the systems that actually provide service to patients or clients; which means that we are exploring issues such as organizational dynamics/organization change, leadership, and organizational culture. HYPOTHESES Constructs # of Items Alpha: ES Mean: S SD: S Mean: NS SD: NS F Sig Change •Cognitive •Affective •Behaviora l •Overall ATC 6 6 6 18 .85 .86 .82 .90 3.72 3.76 3.82 3.76 .72 .54 .59 .49 3.45 3.20 3.45 3.37 .70 .58 .53 .50 8.218 55.53 4 25.94 3 36.71 1 .00 5 .00 0 .00 0 .00 0 Culture •Involve. •Consisten cy •Adaptabil ity •Mission •Overall Cult. 15 15 15 15 60 .91 .89 .86 .93 .97 3.54** 3.41** 3.34 3.53* 3.46** .58 .52 .48 .59 .49 3.06** 3.05** 3.05 3.01* 3.04** .73 .65 .55 .71 .62 27.99 7 20.41 1 18.37 5 34.83 4 30.20 1 .00 0 .00 0 .00 0 .00 0 .00 0 H1: Mental health and social service agencies who subscribe to The Sanctuary Model as an organizational model of change will have a more positive impact on the organizational culture of the agency than those organization who do not subscribe to The Sanctuary Model. H2: Use of The Sanctuary Model in the organizational change process will result in people having a more positive attitude toward change. FINDING S Bloom, S. L. (2005) The Sanctuary Model of Organizational Change for Children’s Residential Treatment. Therapeutic Community: The International Journal for Therapeutic and Supportive Organizations 26(1): 65-81. Denison Consulting. (2005). Overview of the 2004 DOCS Normative Database . Ann Arbor, MI: Author. Dunham, R.B., Grube, J.A., Gardner, D.G., Cummings, L.L. & Pierce, J.L. The development of an attitude toward change instrument. Paper presented at Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1989.

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Page 1: Models of Change and the Impact on Organizational Culture in Nonprofit Agencies: Comparison and Validation of The Sanctuary Model ® Wendy M. McSparren,

Models of Change and the Impact on Organizational Culture in Nonprofit Agencies: Comparison and Validation of The Sanctuary Model ®

Wendy M. McSparren, MSW, MSDarlene Y. Motley, Ph.D.Robert Morris University

Contact [email protected]

RATIONALE

Explore the construct of change and the impact change has on the organizational culture within nonprofit agencies. Specifically comparing a relatively new model, The Sanctuary Model ®, to more traditional methods of change. We examined perceptions and attitudes of staff toward change process and the resultant organizational culture.

SPECIFIC AIMS

Participants were identified from five different mental health/social service agencies that have experienced significant change in the past several years.

• Three agencies are currently using The Sanctuary Model and two agencies are not.

• Participants completed a self-report measure which incorporated measures of organizational culture and attitudes toward change.

• The survey was compiled from existing measurement tools.

• The independent variable of attitude toward change was measured using an 18-item, five point Likert scale questionnaire developed by Dunham, et al (1989).

• The dependent variable of culture was measured using the Denison Organizational Culture Survey (DOCS) which consisted of a 60-item, five point Likert scale questionnaire (Denison, 2005)

METHODOLOGY

The reliability scores for the sub-dimensions of both the culture and change scales were all greater than .75. There was a significant positive difference in the strength of culture in the agencies who subscribe to The Sanctuary Model than those organizations that do not.

The attitude toward change for the test group (Sanctuary), while not statistically significant, was more positive than that of the control group (Non-Sanctuary).

The findings of this study are a step in validating Bloom’s model of change as a viable “road map” for nonprofits toward effective cultural change that can assist in improving organizational culture and fiscal practices in the sector.

This study also provides support of the use of The Sanctuary Model in positively impacting the culture within the work place as well as the idea that The Sanctuary Model can be utilized as an alternative measure of change in various types of organizations.

Additionally, a strong positive culture and effective management of change can strengthen an organization in their strategic environment while leading to improved financial health, vitality, and in the end serving clients more effectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Contact [email protected]

412-262-8458

CHARACTERISTICS OF SAMPLE

Funding and regulation requirements have changed at a rapid pace for the nonprofit sector and specifically within the mental health and social service systems. “Organizational stress” caused by this rapid change results in fragmentation of the systems, high turnover in staff, organizational problems, and ultimately impacts the constituents who receive services.

Characteristic Frequency Percentage

Type of Organization• Sanctuary• Non-Sanctuary• Total

96

144

240

40%

60%

100%

Gender• Sanctuary

- Male

- Female• Non-Sanctuary

- Male

- Female

20

75

56

85

21%

79%

40%

60%

Race• Sanctuary

- Caucasian

- All Others• Non-Sanctuary

- Caucasian

- All Others

72

23

107

35

76%

24%

75%

26%

Employment Status• Sanctuary

- Salaried

- Hourly• Non-Sanctuary

- Salaried

- Hourly

69

26

60

81

72%

27%

43%

57%

REFERENCES

*p < .05/**p < .01THE SANCTUARY MODEL ®

The Sanctuary Model ® initially began as a treatment model for adults who had been traumatized as children. However, the creator of this model has more recently applied the ideas to organizations as a model of change that will assist in improving processes which will enhance overall organizational performance (Bloom, 2005). The application of this model is now being directed to the systems that actually provide service to patients or clients; which means that we are exploring issues such as organizational dynamics/organization change, leadership, and organizational culture.

HYPOTHESESConstructs # of Items Alpha: ES Mean: S SD: S Mean: NS SD: NS F Sig

Change

•Cognitive•Affective•Behavioral•Overall ATC

6

6

6

18

.85

.86

.82

.90

3.72

3.76

3.82

3.76

.72

.54

.59

.49

3.45

3.20

3.45

3.37

.70

.58

.53

.50

8.218

55.534

25.943

36.711

.005

.000

.000

.000

Culture

•Involve.•Consistency•Adaptability•Mission•Overall Cult.

15

15

15

15

60

.91

.89

.86

.93

.97

3.54**

3.41**

3.34

3.53*

3.46**

.58

.52

.48

.59

.49

3.06**

3.05**

3.05

3.01*

3.04**

.73

.65

.55

.71

.62

27.997

20.411

18.375

34.834

30.201

.000

.000

.000

.000

.000

H1: Mental health and social service agencies who subscribe to The Sanctuary Model as an organizational model of change will have a more positive impact on the organizational culture of the agency than those organization who do not subscribe to The Sanctuary Model.

H2: Use of The Sanctuary Model in the organizational change process will result in people having a more positive attitude toward change.

FINDINGS

Bloom, S. L. (2005) The Sanctuary Model of Organizational Change for Children’s Residential Treatment. Therapeutic Community: The International Journal for Therapeutic and Supportive Organizations 26(1): 65-81.

Denison Consulting. (2005). Overview of the 2004 DOCS Nor mative Database. Ann Arbor, MI: Author.

Dunham, R.B., Grube, J.A., Gardner, D.G., Cummings, L.L. & Pierce, J.L. The development of an attitude toward change instrument. Paper presented at Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1989.