Managing Participatively: The Way of the Future for Municipal Law Enforcement Organizations

• NCJ Number: 110314
• Author(s): R E Lowenberg
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 56 pages
• Corporate Author: California Cmssn on Peace Officer Standards and Training
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; POST Media Distribution Ctr
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explores the impact of new-age management trends and their impact upon the future of municipal police organizations.

Abstract

Organizational relationships have been the focus of the study of new-age management styles and practices. Team building, quality circles, pursuing organizational excellence, organizational transformation, and participative problemsolving are a few emerging new-age management issues. Although significant attention has been given to these issues in the private sector, they have received limited attention in police organizations. The mere implementation of new-age management styles and practices, specifically a participative ethic, is not a quick fix for organizational problems, but it does promise to increase employee morale. This study indicates that police officers have an interest, and in some cases a need, to participate in their agency's decisionmaking process. Having input for decisions that impact the quality of the workplace is the primary need. Most respondents indicated they were comfortable with management personnel making the final decision. Along with a participative decisionmaking process, officers desire a decisive, enthusiastic leader willing to make difficult decisions. Study instrument, support documents, and 63-item bibliography. (Author abstract modified)