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Linking Organizational Characteristics to Psychological Empowerment: Contextual Issues in Empowerment Theory
Abstract
An important contextual issue in empowerment theory is the distinction between ecological commonality (ie, whether & to what extent organizational characteristics are generally important for members' empowerment across different settings) & ecological specificity (i.e., whether & to what extent organizational characteristics are uniquely important for members' empowerment within specific settings). This study addressed the issue by assessing perceived organizational characteristics within three community-based organizations, including a service-agency collaborative, an electoral association, & a multi-issue pressure group, & examining relationships with empowerment. Results revealed that perceived organizational characteristics combined with dimensions of empowerment to differentiate community-based organizations; however, organizational characteristics were not related with empowerment in expected ways across groups. Findings of the study highlight the importance of ecological specificity in empowerment theory. Implications for social work administration are discussed. 4 Tables, 37 References. Adapted from the source document.
Journal
(2000)
vol24
no4
pages39-58
Categories
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Nonprofit Organizations (Theory)
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Organizational Theory
