Assessment of organizational structure, strategic orientations and operational efficiency of non-governmental organizations: case of Lithuanian NGOs

• Journal: Global Academic Society Journal: Social Science Insight, Vol. 1, No. 2, year 2008, pp. 21-34.
• Author(s): Simonas Kavaliauskas
• Category: Social Science Insight I
• Keywords: non-governmental organization, NGO, Max Weber’s theory, organizational structure, organizational strategy, operational efficiency, Lithuanian NGOs

Abstract

Increasing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their active involvement into society's development raise many discussions. Nevertheless, lack of theoretical and empirical researches, concerning organizational structure, management and efficiency of NGOs, is evident throughout the world. Therefore the paper aims to explore three closely interrelated managerial aspects of non-governmental sector: 1) organizational management structure and manifestations of hierarchy; 2) strategic orientations of organizational activities (which are related to organizational management and spectrum of activities) as well as 3) operational efficiency. Hence, the paper deals with the major managerial aspects of non-governmental sector (building on Max Weber's theory, contingency theory as well as theoretical insights of Brown and Iverson (2004), Miles and Snow (1978), Knerr (2003)) and verifies theoretical approaches against the results of research, which is performed by the author basing on cases of ten Lithuanian NGOs.