A perspective on organizational decline in the public sector: A case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on organizational decline among public sector agencies with particular emphasis on the causes which intensify this decline. The paper employs resource dependence theory to explain the way over-dependence relationships involving governments and their organization likely intensifies organizational decline conditions. The author analyses the causes of prolonged decline in the Israeli firefighting services. The findings show how weaknesses in the implementation of government policy, deliberate and ongoing disdain of recommendations and critique from the state comptroller and a systematic reduction in budgets intensified organizational decline. The conclusions underscore the insight that effective measures to prevent or remedy organizational decline in the public setting require prior identification and understanding of its major causes.