MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH SHRINKING RESOURCES (FROM MANAGING THE PRESSURES OF INFLATION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1979, BY H JEROME MIRON - SEE NCJ-59239)

• NCJ Number: 59244
• Author(s): J MACTIGHE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. REPRINTED FROM PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1979)

Annotation

STRATEGIES BY WHICH MANAGERS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES CAN DEAL WITH DECLINING BUDGETS IN THE CURRENT ERA OF PUBLIC RESOURCE LIMITS ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

SEVEN VARIABLES UNIVERSALLY PRESENT IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE POLITICAL ATTITUDES, THE ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION, THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF RESOURCE DECLINE, THE AGENCY'S PERSONNEL SYSTEM AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS PRACTICES, THE EXTENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CENTRALIZATION, THE ORGANIZATION'S CLIENTELE, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S PAST STABILITY. MANAGERS SHOULD CONSIDER ALL THESE VARIABLES IN DEVELOPING A STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH SHRINKING RESOURCES. MANAGERS SHOULD FIRST EXAMINE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IN ORDER TO SET OR ADJUST PRIORITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION'S FUNCTIONS. NEXT, THEY SHOULD EXAMINE INVESTMENTS WITH MARGINAL VALUE AND INSTALL RATIONAL CHOICE MECHANISMS SUCH AS ZERO BASE BUDGETING. DURING THIS PROCESS, MANAGERS SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION AND TO RETAIN THE OPENNESS OF THE ORGANIZATION TO CLIENTELE, POLITICAL BODIES, AND THE PUBLIC. FACTORS WHICH WILL EITHER AID OR HINDER EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT CHOSEN STRATEGIES INCLUDE TIME PRESSURE, INFORMAL AND FORMAL POLITICS, AND INVOLVEMENTS AND REACTIONS OF EMPLOYEE UNIONS. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPECIFIC APPROACHES IN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. THE PERIOD OF SHRINKING RESOURCES SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MANAGEMENT INNOVATION AND REFORM, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS FACED ARE DIFFICULT ONES. NOTES INCLUDING REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES IN THIS VOLUME, SEE NCJ 59239-59243 AND 59245-59246. (CFW)