| dc.description.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. | |
