COMPLEXITY AND COORDINATION IN CHILD-WELFARE AGENCIES

Complex human service organizations encounter difficulties in achievin g a desired level of coordination among their inter-related components . The author examines the literature dealing with complexity and coord ination, identifies relevant variables, and develops a rationale for a set of hypotheses investigated in a set of child welfare agencies. Th e findings confirm the negative relationship between complexity and co ordination. This relationship was observed to be mediated by mechaniza tion and communication. The author concludes that if the administrator s of these agencies want to improve coordination and believe in creati ng an environment for better communication, they should provide adequa te mechanical facilities and enhance task-oriented internal communicat ion.