Barcelona 2013
Menu
AIDSImpact.com
Conference Details
Authors
International Committee
Plenary Speakers
Presenting Speakers
Programme
Sessions
Scientific Committee
Acknowledgements
| Abstract #585 - E-Posters English | ||||
|
Session: 50.21: E-Posters English (Poster) on Sunday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Mosa Moshabela - University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa |
||||
| Additional Authors: Dr. Jordi Casabona, Sra Cristina Sanclemente, Dra. Anna Esteve, Dra. Victoria Gonzalez, Grupo HIVITS TS, | ||||
| Aim: A recent wave of institutional pluralism in the community-based non-profit sector for health and social services continues to rise in the wake of swollen investments in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, little is known about the forces at work in the evolution of the community-based non-profit sector. We investigated factors that influence trends observed among non-profit organisations (NPOs) in rural South Africa. | ||||
| Method / Issue: In Bushbuckridge, 63 NPOs were identified using available documents, monthly meetings and word-of-mouth over 3 years. Organisational changes were identified and tracked annually through longitudinal in-depth interviews with founders, managers and directors of NPOs. Observations were made of NPO interactions in their regular monthly forums. The research project took place within a setting of a larger Care in the Home Study (CHoS). The framework for the five change forces of transformation ? resources, value, growth, optimisation and participants ? was borrowed from management sciences and applied to cultivate themes emerging from data coding. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Of the 63 NPOs, two collapsed in 2011, and two more in 2012. However, 61 were successfully tracked until 2012, of which 22/37 (60%) were funded in 2010, 25/43 (58%) in 2011, and 31/61 (51%) in 2012. Availability of funding was the main reason for the rise and fall of NPOs. NPOs underwent transformative changes seen in the way they reduced or increased their sizes in terms of scope of work, geographical coverage, numbers of community care workers, numbers of clients and office buildings. Changes were also observed in the management of NPOs, including directors, managers and board members. In addition, there was a pattern of organisational network development revealed in the form of partnerships, including alliances and coalitions, sought for the purposes of securing support in the effort achieve positive NPO growth trajectories. Strong leadership, effective organisational networks, adequate resources and the ability to adapt were the ingredients of organisational growth and prosperity, the ambition of almost all NPOs. The need to constantly adapt compelled NPOs to repeatedly review their scope of work, as well as their geographic coverage. The boundaries of work and coverage were not only driven by the need on the ground, but were also negotiated with neighbouring NPOs, particularly organisations that were newly formed. | ||||
| Discussion: Therefore, progressive NPO leaders who were well connected and well funded wielded enough moral authority to protect interests and ensure sustainability of their NPOs. The theory of organisational evolution emerging from this study suggests that adaptive behaviour among NPOs is a potential instrument for sustainability. Adaptation may largely depend on effective human capital needed to produce innovative leadership and direction of NPOs, and of the sector as a whole. Community-based non-profit sector may be evolving organically from the traditional voluntary to a competitive care economy. Pre-emptive policy formulation characterised by planned processes may be necessary in order to avoid unintended consequences resulting from the current natural evolution. | ||||
| Go Back | ||||