A public policy approach to local models of HIV/AIDS control in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated involvement and cooperation patterns of local Brazilian AIDS program actors and the consequences of these patterns for program implementation and sustainability. METHODS: We performed a public policy analysis (documentary analysis, direct observation, semistructured interviews of health service and nongovernmental organization [NGO] actors) in 5 towns in 2 states, São Paulo and Pará. RESULTS: Patterns suggested 3 models. In model 1, local government, NGOs, and primary health care services were involved in AIDS programs with satisfactory response to new epidemiological trends but a risk that HIV/AIDS would become low priority. In model 2, mainly because of NGO activism, HIV/AIDS remained an exceptional issue, with limited responses to new epidemiological trends and program sustainability undermined by political instability. In model 3, involvement of public agencies and NGOs was limited, with inadequate response to epidemiological trends and poor mobilization threatening program sustainability. CONCLUSIONS: Within a common national AIDS policy framework, the degree of involvement and cooperation between public and NGO actors deeply impacts population coverage and program sustainability. Specific processes are required to maintain actor mobilization without isolating AIDS programs.

Recuperando a ênfase na dimensão pública dos estudos organizacionais / Rescuing publicness from organizational studies

A dimensão pública ainda é tema merecedor de pesquisa? A sociologia organizacional clássica (ou teoria-padrão) abriu o caminho para a compreensão da administração e da gerência públicas, mas não explorou todas as possibilidades colocadas. A dimensão pública caracteriza-se, do ponto de vista analítico, por duas funções de produção: eficiência (produtos) e efetividade (resultados societais). Muito embora possa haver semelhanças entre instituições públicas e não-públicas no tocante a alguns aspectos de seus modelos organizacionais, a função de efetividade à qual cada uma delas responde é bastante específica. Tal concepção sugere que os pesquisadores de administração e organização públicas explorem novas perspectivas, tais como organizantes e as organizadas (ou, noutros termos, coloquem uma agenda teórica ampliada).

Does publicness still make sense as an issue for further research? Classic organizational sociology (or standard theory) has provided a breakthrough for understanding public administration and management, but has not fully explored the agenda. Publicness is analytically characterized by the ownership of two production functions: efficiency (outputs), effectiveness (societal outcomes). While similarities may exist between public and nonpublic entities on some aspects of their organizational models, the effectiveness function they are accountable for is quite specific. Such a perspective allows public administration and organizational scholars to explore new perspectives such as organizing and organized (or the agenda of extended theory).