Conclusion
An effort has been made to establish the plausibility of the hypothesis that our present organizational theory (and organizations based upon it) is obsolete to the current objective of indidualization in the field of human services. A few alternatives have been advanced which might provide deorganized, yet humanized, assistance.
There can be no question as to the need for stopping what must be an endlessly frustrating experience for clients, who seem to be shuffled from program to program, each of which is only partly suitable to the individual's needs. The challenge to professionals in the human services appears to be either to develop a theory of organization which is capable of individualizing, or to deorganize.
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Mr. Merges received his Bachelor's Degree in English from Siena College in 1961, his Master's Degree in Political Science [Public Administration] from the State University of New York at Albany, in 1969, and is preparing his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Public Administration at the State University in Albany. He has been in the mental health field since 1965, working with the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene. His current position is that of Director of Wassaic State School, at Wassaic, New York.
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Merges, R.C. Are concepts of organizational theory and concepts of individualized treatment contradictory?. Journal of Mental Health Administration 3, 15–24 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828332
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828332