The aim of this thesis emanated from a discussion whether voluntary associations have a choice or not regarding their democratic development. Robert Michels (1911/1983), one of the classic sociological thinkers, says no. The path towards oligarchy is inevitable. Nevertheless, maybe there are certain points, where the organizations face a certain democratic “dilemma” (Merton, 1966), forcing them more or less easily towards the oligarchic path? Seven counterarguments deriving from modern perspectives on participatory democracy (Pateman 1985; 1989) where used to find a way to avoid the oligarchic path and by that develop democracy in organizations. Since democracy also requires equality, the dissertation explored the question of power and influence in democratic organisations by studying the use of (spoken) language. Inspired by sociolinguistic theory (Milles, 2004) the aim was to identify dominance of the conversation: Who are taking part of the conversation? Are there differences between women and men in democratic organisations? The main part of the study consists of group interviews. Members of the boards of six relatively small voluntary associations where chosen as units of analysis. Information around founding an association gathered from 75 homepages on Internet served as background data. The language as each one of the 27 board members where studied both separately and as conversation. The conclusion is that formal structures build in hierarchal levels already when voluntary organisations take form. The dilemmas seem to revolve around the two fundamental criteria of democratic government, namely effectiveness and responsiveness are more or less explicitly stated. Awareness of dilemmas seems to be a possible way to avoid the determinism of oligarchy. The need for reinterpretation of the goals now and then could make it easier to find alternative actions. The associations have to strike a balance between effectiveness in relation to their goals and effectiveness in a democratic sense, a balance not always held. By clarifying the work and development processes of the voluntary organisations it is possible to identify (the lack of) democratic work within the organisations – a useful instrument in practice. The elite that runs the organisations is almost exclusively male and is preventing the members, especially women, from voicing their opinion. Democracy obstructs by structures demanded by society, socialised gender structures and the need of efficiency. The representatives are not always carrying out their task as elected representatives; self-interest puts before the common good.

<p>This paper provides a study about human trafficking with sexual motives performed in European states and the measures taken from national, international and Non-Governmental organizations with the purpose to oppose human trafficking. According to the UN human trafficking has increased and shows tendencies to continue escalating, regardless of the measures taken by various organisations. In this study, four countries with associations to human trafficking have been chosen and organisations related to these countries are studied. The purpose is to inquire into how these organisations work against human trafficking and which objectives and guidelines these organisations strive for together with their values. The aim is to find out which result the organizations efforts gets and if, according to my hypothesis, the efforts oppose themselves. If so, what could be a possible explanation?</p><p>The central conclusions after performing this study is that the policies from international organisations given to institutions at state level are not always implemented. There are also difference in the measures taken by each state and their valuations. Every actor’s behaviour in a network is important and scarcity in one actors behaviour leads to a weakened result. One of the studied states has shown tendencies of disregarding the issue which effects collaboration between the studied organizations.</p>

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Sciences de gestion : Lyon 3 : 2006. Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Sciences de gestion : Université Autonome Métropolitaine de Mexico, Iztapalapa : 2006. / Le vol. 2 est une synthèse en français. Thèse soutenue en co-tutelle. Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr.

Sammanfattning Syftet med studien är att beskriva och analysera, samt bidra med ökad kunskap om, hur olika kommunikationsfaktorer inom en organisation kan främja lärande. Mer precist är syftet att studera hur chef och medarbetare uppfattar vilka faktorer som påverkar digital och verbal kommunikation. Samt hur dessa faktorer kan påverka lärandet i organisationen. Studien är kvalitativ med en induktiv ingång och för att få empiri har intervjuer utförts på ett företag, med såväl chefer som medarbetare. Resultatet visar på att följande faktorer visade sig ha betydelse för kommunikation i organisationen; kombination och alternativ av kommunikationskanal; tydlighet; ansvar; riktlinjer och socialt samspel. I studien framkom även att det fanns en del störningsmoment gällande kommunikation. Vidare framkom under analysarbetet att följande kategorier inverkar på lärandet i organisationen; synen på att utvecklas; uppfattningen om att lära sig i arbetet; möjlighet att diskutera alternativa lösningar; att lära sig av sina kollegor; återkoppling; att lösa uppgifter i grupp; att lära av och med sina kollegor och socialt samspel.Studien finner att genom att beakta faktorerna som påverkar kommunikationen, kan många störningsmoment avvärjas och därmed kan tid frigöras. Denna tid är värdefull och kan användas på ett mer kreativt sätt, exempelvis till innovation och lärande. I studien visas också att organisationer behöver fokusera mer på socialt samspel och se till att medarbetarna kan mötas ofta och på ett otvunget sätt. När motiverade medarbetare möts i dialog kan de finna innovativa lösningar på problem, vilket kan leda till ett utvecklingsinriktat lärande i organisationen. Studien föreslår team eller förändringsarbete som lärstrategi.

This article reports on the results of the identification of potential business opportunities for Non Governmental Organizations as an extra income to face the present funding challenge. Few research studies have been done on business opportunities as sources of income for NGO's. The aim of this study was to explore potential business opportunities as sources of income and it focused on the research of different possibilities. In this exploratory research study a qualitative approach was followed through interviews with business people and a focusgoup discussion to investigate potential business opportunities. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling techniques, eleven business men and a focusgroup consisting of five business men and six personnel of The Dutch Reformed Ministry or Caring. The eleven business men were recruited from the congregations of the Highveld Sinod. Data were collected through interviews with the business men and the focusgroup interview. Data were analysed according to themes. The following eight potential business opportunities were identified: government contracts, donations, improved marketing, fundraising strategies, buying of a business or shareholding in a business, partnerships, selling of therapeutic services and additional information and proposals. This offers business opportunities for NGO's to use as sources of income to sustain them and ensure that they can continue with their service delivery. The recommendation from the focus group was for more donations, an improved marketing strategy, the requirement or government contracts and selling of therapeutic services as potential opportunities. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This thesis demonstrates that the Australian Red Cross was embedded with the Australian government, military and civilian ‘home front’ during the Second World War. The legal basis, structure, leadership and administration of the Society were closely integrated with the official war effort of the Australian government and military. The Red Cross societies of other combatant nations were similarly organised to contribute to the logistical firepower of their respective governments and militaries. The Second World War revitalised the Australian Red Cross and caused the Society to forge even stronger links with the Australian government. The Society was integrated as a paramilitary branch of the Australian military forces and provided logistical support to the military in Australia and overseas by means of its Field Force. The pervasive presence of the Red Cross resulted in the embedding of the Society on the Australian civilian ‘home front’. The integration of the Australian Red Cross with the Australian government was for the purpose of supporting the war effort of the Allies in Australia and overseas. (For complete abstract open document)

Cette recherche porte sur les dynamiques des conflits interpersonnels et leur pilotage au sein des organisations sociales et médico-sociales. Pour cela, nous mobilisons une méthodologie qualitative centrée sur trois études de cas : les Restos du cœur, la Reposance et l’institut médico-éducatif Malécot. Nous mettons en évidence trois niveaux de résultats. Tout d’abord, nous montrons les conditions d’identification d’un conflit interpersonnel constructif ou destructeur. Ensuite, nous identifions les leviers de régulation qui rendent un conflit interpersonnel constructif. Enfin, l’analyse des cas et leur confrontation avec le modèle conceptuel montre l’interaction entre la nature et les déterminants des conflits interpersonnels à travers deux mécanismes : les mécanismes de régulation du conflit interpersonnel et les mécanismes de l’approche configurationnelle. / This research focuses on the dynamics of interpersonal conflicts are in the OSMS and their piloting. We mobilize a qualitative methodology by leading three case studies: Restos du coeur, Reposance and Institut médico-educatif Malécot. Three levels of results are proposed. At first, highlighting the conditions that make an interpersonal construct or on the other hand, destructive. Then, we identify their control means by testing them over a construct conflict. Finally, cases analysis confronted with the conceptual model, shows the interaction between nature and determinants of interpersonal conflicts through two mechanisms: regulation mechanisms of interpersonal conflict and the mechanisms of configurational approach.

L’ONG Surfrider Foundation Europe (SFE) s’interroge sur son modèle d’organisation, le rôle et la place de l’action bénévole après une très forte phase de professionnalisation. Autour de la question de la construction du sens pour les individus et les organisations, nous regarderons comment les processus de professionnalisation sont susceptibles de transformer le projet associatif. Ces transformations et ce changement de nature peuvent être source de sens ou de perte de sens pour les bénévoles. L’étude de ce cas unique nous permettra de proposer un modèle de pilotage qui tient compte de la spécificité et de la complexité des organisations associatives. Ces situations hybridées de travail, entre contributions de travail salarié, inscrites sous le registre de l’échange marchand, et contributions de travail bénévole, inscrites sous le registre du don, sont particulièrement riches d’enseignements pour d’autres « situations de gestion » (Girin, 1990). / The NGO Surfrider Foundation Europe questions its organisational model and more specifically the role and the place of volunteer action after a strong phase of professionalisation within the organisation. Regarding the question of the « sensemaking » both for the individuals and for the organisations, we will study how the processes of professionalisation are likely to transform the project of the association. These transformations and this change of constitution could either be a source of meaning or a loss of meaning for the volunteers. The study of this unique case will allow us to offer a steering model that will take into account the specifics and complexity of the associative organisations. These hybridized work situations, benefitting from paid employment input (registered as trade exchange) and from volunteer work input (registered as donation) are particularly instructive for other management situations (Girin, 1990).

Depuis ces vingt dernières années, la représentativité des organisations internationales est au cœur du débat politique sur la réforme des institutions de la gouvernance mondiale. Considérée comme un enjeu clé de leur légitimité, la représentativité apparaît à la fois comme une qualité liée au fait de « bien représenter » mais aussi comme un objet dont se saisissent les institutions pour permettre à certains acteurs d’en représenter d’autres. À partir d’une recherche menée dans le cadre de l’Organisation internationale du travail (OIT) sur une période s’étendant de 1919 à 2014, nous proposons de recourir à la notion de « valeur pratique » pour aborder cette notion polysémique et ambivalente qu’est la représentativité dans le cadre d’une organisation internationale à la fois particulière et emblématique des enjeux soulevés aujourd’hui par le problème de la représentativité. Créée en 1919, l’OIT est en effet, à la différence de toutes les autres organisations internationales du système des Nations unies et de Bretton Woods, la seule à être composée non seulement des représentants des gouvernements mais aussi des représentants des organisations syndicales de travailleurs et d’employeurs (représentation tripartite). L’OIT constitue donc un cas particulièrement intéressant pour étudier la représentativité sur le long terme à la fois au niveau des États et des acteurs non étatiques. Sur le plan méthodologique, nous défendons l’intérêt d’une démarche socio-historique qui accorde une place importante aux représentations des acteurs, sans pour autant faire l’économie de l’analyse des pratiques de représentation objectivables à travers le temps. / In the past two decades, the representativeness of international organisations has been at the heart of political debates on the reform of world governance institutions. Representativeness is key to the legitimacy of international organizations. It entails the fact of "representing well" but also constitutes a tool which the institutions use in order to make certain actors represent others. Building on empirical research on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) from 1919 to 2014, this work develops the concept of "practical value" to address the polysemous and ambivalent notion of representativeness. The case of the ILO is both particular and emblematic of the problems that representativeness poses today. Indeed, unlike the United Nations or Bretton Woods systems, the ILO, created in 1919, is the sole international organisation composed of government representatives and representatives from workers’ and employers’ unions (tripartite representation). Hence, the ILO is a particularly interesting case to study representativeness over the long term at the level of states and non-state actors. Methodologically, this work defends a socio-historical approach that gives a central place to actors’ conceptions about representativeness, while also analysing the way representational practices are objectivised through time.

Doctorat en philosophie et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished