Positive and negative effects of external influences on program design

Abstract

Program fidelity to initial design is a critical measure in implementation research and often considered an important element of program success. This approach assumes that a program' s initial design is immune to the influence of external forces and isS OCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS are developed in an increasingly complex environment. Their implementation and final realization depend on factors that are both internal and external to the organization developing the program. Implementation fidelity, or how closely an end program matches its original design, is an important strategy used to evaluate a program's success. Although some degree of adaptation is inevitable, and perhaps even desirable, this theory posits that programs are not magically transformed from paper to reality and that administrators must make efforts to ensure that the implemented program reflects the original program design in order to achieve program goals. Assuming that the original program design is based on empirical research and frontline practice wisdom, Funding for this project came from the University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy. We thank Jennifer Campbell, Alissa Johnston, and Shane Van Housen for research assistance and the clients and affiliates of domestic violence agencies in Connecticut for sharing their time and opinions with us. All omissions and errors are our own. most evaluators expect that nonprofit agencies should strive to implement these plans in their entirety. From a program planning perspective, we should then want to understand whether and how the changing external environment hinders or promotes implementation fidelity. This approach assumes, however, that the original program design was in fact based on empirical research and practice wisdom. We challenge this assumption and investigate the process of designing a program and how external influences may affect program development even before the implementation phase.The case study discussed in this article investigates the impact of external influences on the design of a new permanent supportive housing program for domestic violence victims. Our research question considers how external influences affect program design and administrators' abilities to follow their originally intended program theory. We found that such influences change the initial conception of how the program will achieve its intended outcomes and can be perceived as either positive or negative influences by program administrators. These findings lead us to ponder how to apply the concept of implementation failure to the process of designing programs and to conclude that the sector would benefit from critically assessing the process of program design as much as program implementation.

How the Economic and Financial Situation of the Community Affects Sport Clubs’ Resources: Evidence from Multi-Level Models

“…Probably due to issues regarding data availability, economic and financial factors have been largely neglected in previous research. Second, most studies were qualitative in nature (e.g., [17,25,26]), while the chosen measures on the community level could be improved in quantitative approaches [9]. Therefore, the body of research would benefit from quantitative studies that apply adequate measures and allow generalizations and predictions.…”

“…The level of competition increases with an increasing number of competitors and is thus higher in large communities [28]. To successfully compete for scarce resources, organizations may feel more pressure to adapt programs to the preferences of stakeholders in an effort to please more stakeholders [25]. This change in programs may in turn negatively affect potential members and volunteers working for the club.…”

“…While the focus of previous research was on the effect of public funding on aspects like program design [25] and organizational autonomy [23], this research looks at the financial situation of the community, which is critical for the support of sport clubs. Research showed that organizational performance is affected by environmental resources [17], specifically financial resources [26].…”

A framework for understanding how nonprofits shape our physical environment: Identifying allies in making spaces

“…Attempts to shape the broader physical spaces in which nonprofits operate also matter as evidenced by Bastian and Napieralski (), who point out that the shape of the physical environment forms the need for services provided by nonprofits, as in the case of food desserts, and by Hetling and Botein (), who conducted a case study of external influences on program success using a case study of a program of supportive housing for domestic violence victims and found that physical site characteristics were important external influences. Vinokur‐Kaplan and McBeath () examine nonprofit organizations that colocate to save rent and for the physical security and enhanced work environment provided by the density of organizations and find that the organizations are satisfied with the arrangements and want to continue to work in a colocated setting.…”