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Cooperation and coalitions
Organizational structures can be analyzing a single organization and its internal functioning as well as a coalition of actors in collaboration of a certain goal. Such collaboration can be analyzed by similar structure analysis; a good example is “Organizational analysis of maternal mortality reduction program in Madagascar” by Harimanana, Barennes and Reinharz. This study used the Gamson’s Coalition Theory1, Hining, and Greenwood’s archetypes to assess the misalignment of the process by which several agencies with the Madagascar health Ministry provide prenatal services and information to women in Madagascar. Their results show several problems. Incongruity among actors disperses the serves and therefore makes it difficult for women to access support. Cultural inconsistencies and failing to recognize social context diminishes the cooperation and effectiveness of the actors. The Madagascar health ministry needs basic materials and funding to provide adequate services to women. Cumbersome directives structure created inefficiencies. The Analysis of the information indicated that the Madagascar Ministry of Health is a poor leader of this effort, the programs did not translate well on the local level and the different actors did not cooperate well. The study also identified capacity limits in health care but due to the misalignment of actor’s cooperation, the NGO’s did not properly address the lack of capacity. This study demonstrates a complex organizational analysis. The multiple aspects of the misalignment and shortfalls in information flows in addition to inter-actor misunderstanding increased the inefficiencies of the program. This analysis could help the functioning of the operation in the future.

Harimanana, Aina, Barennes, Hubert and Reinharz, Daniel Organizational analysis of maternal mortality reduction program in Madagascar International Journal of Health Planning and Management 2011; 26: e186-e196.

1.	Gamson’s coalition theory explains the strategies that different actors in negotiation will assume in reaching the best results for their goals. Gamson, William A. A THEORY OF COALITION FORMATION; Harvard University, American Sociological Review Vol. 26, No. 3, June 1961