NEEDS - GOALS ASSESSMENT OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION (POLICE DEPARTMENT) FROM A GENERAL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

• NCJ Number: 42041
• Author(s): T O'HIGGINS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 78 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE - DISSERTATION

Annotation

THE RELEVANCE OF THE GENERAL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE TO ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS IS EXAMINED THROUGH AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PRIORITY RATINGS GIVEN TO SEVERAL POLICE GOALS BY POLICEMEN, POLICE MANAGERS, AND THE PUBLIC.

Abstract

THE GOAL PERCEPTIONS OF PATROLMEN, MANAGEMENT, AND THE PUBLIC ARE COMPARED FOR 'AS IS' AND 'AS SHOULD BE' CONDITIONS USING A 57 ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE GENERATED BY THE RESPONDENTS. THE SAMPLES WERE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF THEIR REPUTED LEADERSHIP AMONG THEIR PEER GROUP. CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GOAL CONSENSUS AMONG EMPLOYEES, MANAGERS, AND THE PUBLIC WAS FOUND; THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THIS INDICATES ORGANIZATIONAL INEFFECTIVENESS. TO ASSESS ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY, THE AUTHOR COMPARED THE DEGREE OF GOAL CONSENSUS BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT. FROM THIS THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT EMPLOYEES PERCEIVED THE ORGANIZATION AS INEFFICIENT. COMMONALITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THE PERCEPTIONS BETWEEN EACH GROUP WERE IDENTIFIED. A HIGHER CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PERCEPTIONS OF EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC, THAN BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT WAS SHOWN. MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES SHARE MORE PRIORITIES WITH THE PUBLIC THAN WITH EACH OTHER, IN BOTH THE PRESENT AND THE IDEAL CONDITIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CONSIDERABLE AREAS OF AGREEMENT AND DISAGREEMENT EXIST IN THE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS AN EMPHATIC CONSENSUS THAT THE SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTION IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THE POLICE ROLE. GREATEST DISPARITIES CENTER AROUND THE JOB CONTEXT FACTORS (THE WORKING CONDITIONS SURROUNDING THE JOB) RATHER THAN ON JOB CONTENT FACTORS (THE WORK TASKS THEMSELVES). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...DMC