Abstract
M.A. (Social Science)
The study was undertaken based on the perception that a recently
, established welfare organisation was experiencing stalemate. During
the study it became apparent that an organisation can be defined in
terms of an organic analogy, that is, that organisations develop in
life cycles which are affected by the environment. The
environmental influences affect the organisation's culture,
strategy, structure, processes and services to the clients.
The survival of any organisation depends on its adaptability and
ability to design technology to enable it to obtain and to utilize
resources more efficiently. In other words, organisations are
dependent on their environment.
Newly established organisations however, are ill-equipped to make
the necessary assessments and forecasts regarding their environment
and resources. The newness of the organisation has significance in
that structures are not in place or formalised enough to monitor the
environment. Additionally, the organisation could be caught up in
the euphoria of the 'utopian fantasy' resulting in inferior
decision-making.
Using the Thomas model of research and development in Grinnell
(1982) a technology was designed to facilitate not only the survival
but the continued growth of the organisation being studied. The
problem was analyzed by a study of the development of the
organisation concerned and a comparison to organisational life cycle
theory.