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Structural characteristics which facilitate or hinder the implementation of the employee assistance programs of three Florida state agencies: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services

A descriptive study of the structural characteristics of the employee assistance programs of the Florida State Departments of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV), Law Enforcement (FDLE), and Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) was carried out to ascertain which structural characteristics facilitate or hinder implementation of employee assistance programs. / The variables chosen to represent these characteristics were: Resources, complexity, formalization, centralization, autonomy, and training. These variables were gleaned from the literature on the models of change. Zaltman, Duncan, and Holbek (1973) was the particular model of change selected. In the implementation, Zaltman, Duncan, and Holbek found that high formalization, high centralization, and low complexity were needed to facilitate implementation of change. Structured interviews utilizing scales gleaned from The Handbook of Organizational Measurements (Price, 1972) were conducted with EAP representatives from HSMV, FDLE, and HRS. Also interviewed were the Commissioner of FDLE, Secretary of HSMV, and former Secretary of HRS. The current Secretary of HRS was unavailable. One Tallahassee service provider for all three agencies was interviewed for additional data. Policy statements, job descriptions, and organizational charts were secured through EAP representatives or the service provider. / It was found that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles EAP is at the implementation state of change characterized by high formalization, high centralization, low complexity. It was also found that high autonomy and high level of training of EAP personnel facilitated implementation of the EAP. / HRS and FDLE are still in the initial phases of change even though HRS has had an EAP for 14 years and FDLE has had an EAP for 5 years. The factors hindering the implementation were mainly environmental. The HRS Secretary changed three times in four years. Also funding has been cut. In addition there is no move at HRS or FDLE toward higher formalization, centralization, or low complexity within the EAP. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-05, Section: A, page: 1440. / Major Professor: C. Aaron McNeece. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_78003
ContributorsPurcell, Elaine., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format206 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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