Autonomy and genetic predisposition: The relationship between original organizational configuration and the tendency for autonomy. An analysis of three drop-in centres servicing street youth

This thesis is a comparative analysis of three non-profit service providers and the effect of particular development traits on their degree of autonomy. The three non-profit providers examined in this thesis are all drop-in centres for street youth. Recent government cuts have demonstrated the clear relationship between autonomy and organizational survival of non-profit agencies. For years many have argued that the practice of relying on government funding depoliticized these organizations. many of which perform social justice work. Hence, from a political perspective. organizational autonomy has become an increasingly important issue. This thesis addresses the question of why some non-profit service providers develop into independent, self-reliant entities and others do not. The organizations examined were studied using a combination of Angelo Panebianco's genetic model and literature specific to non-profit organizations and their development. Long-term behavioural patterns were examined through a longitudinal overview of fundraising and policy making practices. This mode of analysis yields a unique means of understanding why some non-profit organizations. as a result of their degree of autonomy, are less effected by environmental changes, than others.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Year dc:date

1999

Author dc:creator

• Mertins, Heike

Contributors dc:contributor

• David Docherty

• Political Science
• Social Welfare
• Social Work

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/68

OAI record oai:identifier

https://scholars.wlu.ca/do/oai/?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_etdms&identifier=oai%3Ascholars.wlu.ca%3Aetd-1067