"Exploring the Dimensions of Organizational Capacity for Local Social Service Delivery Organizations Using a Multi-Method Approach"

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dc.contributor.authorBryan, Tara Kolaren
dc.contributor.committeechairWolf, James F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKhademian, Anne M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRoberts, Patrick S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberChoi, Sang O.en
dc.contributor.departmentPublic Administration and Public Affairsen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:20:53Zen
dc.date.adate2012-01-24en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:20:53Zen
dc.date.issued2011-12-07en
dc.date.rdate2012-01-24en
dc.date.sdate2011-12-18en
dc.description.abstractOrganizational capacity is a concept that has garnered increased attention from the public and nonprofit management literature in recent years. Capacity, broadly defined as the ability of an organization to fulfill its goals, has been of particular focus of scholars interested in understanding the variables that impact organizational performance. Despite the increased focus on organizational capacity in the literature, the concept remains vague. Given the fuzziness of the concept of capacity, there is much opportunity to contribute to the field's knowledge and measurement of the concept. This dissertation adds depth to the capacity literature in public and nonprofit management by identifying, describing and measuring the different dimensions of capacity relevant to local social service delivery organizations. Utilizing a two-phase sequential mixed method design including both interview and survey data, the findings suggest that organizational capacity consists of a number organizational resources and capabilities that impact the functioning of the internal organization as well as its relationships with other relevant organizations and external stakeholders. In particular, six dimensions of capacity were identified: human resource, financial resource, information technology, knowledge, stakeholder commitment, and collaborative. The survey results indicate that the six dimensions are connected to the theoretical construct of organizational capacity. However, results from the discriminant validity tests of the six subscales are mixed. This finding implies that these dimensions represent broad constructs that impact the other dimensions directly. This finding also highlights the challenge of defining and measuring discreetly the specific dimensions of capacity. Future research should examine these discrepancies in order to further disentangle capacity as a theoretical construct.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-12182011-102130en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12182011-102130/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/30162en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartBryan_TK_D_2011.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectstrategic managementen
dc.subjectnonprofit managementen
dc.subjectpublic managementen
dc.subjectservice deliveryen
dc.subjectlocal social service organizationsen
dc.subjectorganizational capacityen
dc.title"Exploring the Dimensions of Organizational Capacity for Local Social Service Delivery Organizations Using a Multi-Method Approach"en
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplinePublic Administration and Public Affairsen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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