Interorganizational coordination in a mandated relationship : a case study

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to address the problem of interorganizational coordination in a mandated relationship. Past research had found that the characteristics of the linkage between organizations was likely to vary depending on whether the base of the relationship was voluntary or mandated. The relationship between public health and educational organizations for the provision of immunization services to schoolchildren was chosen for analysis as the base of the relationship had recently changed with the passing of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1982. Accordingly, the present study was designed to answer one major question: How will the change in the base of the relationship from voluntary to mandated influence the pattern of linkages between the Thunder Bay Board of Health and the Thunder Bay School Boards? Marrett’s model (1971), which focused on the problem of linkages between organizations, provided the conceptual framework for this study. She proposed that relationships might vary on four dimensions: degree of formalization, degree of standardization, degree of intensity, and degree of reciprocity. The case study was designed to be exploratory and primarily descriptive in nature. Twenty-one semi-structured informant interviews and several documents provided the data for this investigation. The change in linkage dimensions was analysed utilizing Marrett’s model. The findings of the present study revealed that change occurred in all four linkage dimensions but failed to demonstrate major changes.