Accreditation's impact on organizational capacity: A data-mining study
Item
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Title
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Accreditation's impact on organizational capacity: A data-mining study
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:91674f95cb7b:10065
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identifier
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10042
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Creator
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Williams-Gray, Brenda,
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Contributor
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Irwin Epstein
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Date
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2009
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Public policy | accreditation | capacity building | data- mining | Nonprofit organizations | organizational capacity | organizational life stages
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Abstract
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This study explores what relationship, if any, exists between accreditation and organizational capacity in nonprofit social service organizations.;Organizational capacity refers to the total output or activity necessary to achieve the organization's mission; it is inclusive of eight elements, deemed by the literature, as relevant for organizations' effectiveness and sustainability. The Council on Accreditation (COA), a national accrediting body, affords organizations the opportunity to implement nationally-vetted administrative and management standards, intended to build organizational capacity.;This is a practice based research (PBR) study that employs available data mined from organizations engaged in accreditation process. A developmental perspective provides insight into the capacity needs of the two hundred and sixty-five organizations in the study. The diverse characteristics of these organizations reveal significant associations with selected organizational capacity elements: mission clarity, financial management, information and technology, and performance quality improvement.;This prospective study employs a routinely administered pre-test, prior to beginning the accreditation process, and post-test, after completion of accreditation on their capacity. The survey data is compared to the organization's accreditation outcomes.;Noteworthy findings include support for assessment as an act of capacity building. Fifty-nine percent of organizations completing the post-test indicate increased capacity as compared to nine percent that indicate no post-test change in capacity, and thirty-two percent that indicate reduced post-test capacity. Organizations in all three cohorts (increased, neutral, or reduced capacity), had good or better accreditation outcomes. However, organizations with insufficient outcomes were those seeking reaccreditation and in the cohort that assessed reduced post-test capacity. Organizations that assessed increased or no change in capacity had good to excellent outcomes as indicated by the vehicle of accreditation.;Support for organizations to utilize accreditation as a vehicle to expand their capacity, has implications for funding for organizations' development. Further research can explore whether effectively managed organizations have quality service delivery systems, and positive outcomes for persons served.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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D.S.W.
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Program
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Social Welfare
