NCJ Number
106359
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 49 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1987) Pages: 55-58,170,198-199
Date Published
1987
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the functions of corrections midmanagers in implementing policy and providing feedback on policy outcomes to top administrators.
Abstract
Cybernetics is the science of communication and control. Any organization responding to its environment is a cybernetic system and can be studied by reviewing its input, actions, output, and feedback. Within such a system, top administrators assess and analyze issues with which the organization must deal and develop policy for the organization to address these issues. Midmanagers then develop procedures for implementing the policy and train their staffs to follow those procedures. The output involves the operation of the correctional facility so as to achieve policy goals. As output proceeds over time, midmanagers review and analyze output to determine whether it is achieving the effects intended by agency policy. Feedback on output is provided by midmanagers to top administrators, who must then decide whether policy must be revised. Because of their centralized location in the organization, midmanagers bridge the gap between policy and operations and provide a conduit for the channeling of information throughout the organization.