Assessing organizational functioning as a step toward innovation

Sci Pract Perspect. 2007 Apr;3(2):20-8. doi: 10.1151/spp073220.

Abstract

Innovate and adapt are watchwords for substance abuse treatment programs in today's environment of legislative mandates, effective new interventions, and competition. Organizations are having to evolve - ready or not - and those that are ready have superior chances for success and survival. The Texas Christian University Organizational Readiness for Change (ORC) survey is a free instrument, with supporting materials, that substance abuse treatment programs use to assess organizational traits that can facilitate or hinder efforts at transition. This article presents organizational change as a three-stage process of adopting, implementing, and routinizing new procedures; describes the use of the ORC; and outlines a step-by-step procedure for clearing away potential obstacles before setting forth on the road to improved practices and outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Management Audit / methods*
  • Organizational Innovation
  • Organizational Objectives
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
  • Program Evaluation / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / organization & administration*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*