Abstract
Managers of mental health agencies, particularly not-for-profit corporations, have a variety of options when faced with funding reductions. In this article, a framework is presented for analyzing strategic options. Generic strategies often used in the private sector are then explained showing how they can be applied by mental health agencies. This approach suggests a more proactive, externally focused role for managers in mental health agencies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Broskowski, A., O'Brian, G.M. St. L., and Prevost, J.A. Interest-organizational strategies for survival: Looking ahead to 1990.Administration in Mental Health, 9; 1982.
Cameron, K. Strategic responses to conditions of decline: Higher education and the private sector.Journal of Higher Education, in press.
Harrigan, K.R. Strategy formulation in declining industries.Academy of Management Review, 5:599–604, 1980.
Hirschhorn, L. Facilitating consortium workshops In Hirschhorn et al.,Managing retrenchment in human services. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, in press.
Hofer, C.W. and Schendel, D.Strategy formulation: Analytical concepts, St. Paul: West Publishing Co., 1978.
Kiechel, W. Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone? Or my cash cow? Or my star?Fortune, Nov. 2:148–154, 1981.
Kline, N.From sad to glad: Kline on depression. New York: Ballantine, 1975.
Knauth, P.Seasons in hell. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977.
Kotler, P.Marketing for non-profit organizations. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1975.
Levine, C.H. Organizational decline and cutbacks management.Public Administration Review, 38:1978.
McLaughlin, C.P. Strategic planning under current cutback conditions.Health Care Management Review, Summer, 1982
Pennings, J.M. Strategically interdependent organizations. In Nystrom, P.C. and Starbuck, W.H., eds.,Handbook of organizational design. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.
Pfeffer, J. Merger as a response to organizational interdependence.Administrative Science Quarterly, 17:382–394, 1972.
Pfeffer, J. and Nowak, P. Joint ventures and interorganizational interdependence.Administrative Science Quarterly, 21:398–418, 1976.
Sarason, S.B. and Lorentz, E.The challenge of the resource exchange network. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1979.
Sarason, S.B. et al.Human services and resource networks. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1977.
Schon, D.Ideas in good currency. New York: Norton, 1971.
Snow, R. Merger of social service organizations as a retrenchment strategy. In Hirschhorn, et al.,Managing retrenchment in human services. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, in press.
Trist, E. A concept of organizational ecology. Address presented in Melbourne, Australia, Management and Behavioral Science Center, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Zammuto, R.F. and Cameron, K.S. Environmental decline and organizational response.Proceedings of the Academy of Management, 1982.
Additional information
Research for this article was done while the author was at the Management and Behavioral Science Center, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Insights from this research will appear inManaging Retrenchment in Human Services: Themes, Tools and Cases, Larry Hirschorn, et al; Jossey-Bass, April, 1983.
The author is now affliated with the Department of Health Systems Management, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoare, G. Retrenchment strategies in mental health: Lessons from the private sector. Administration in Mental Health 10, 259–271 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00823104
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00823104