Original scientific paper
MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LIMITATION OF GROWTH
Egbert Tellegen
; Interfaculty department of environmental science, Amsterdam
Abstract
Modern welfare states are confronted with problems of growth everywhere. In the past, progress was often defined in terms of "the more the better". Nowadays it is more common to define it in terms of limitation of growth or even reduction of delivery of goods and services. There are not only ecological but also social limits to growth (Hirsch).
In the article several causes of growth of production and consumption of goods and services are discussed. Financial and judicial instruments alone are not sufficient to limit growth of volumes of goods and services. In addition to that communication between organizations and their customers in order to limit the use of products and services is necessary.
The role of the family doctor is discussed as a model of influencing the needs of customers. The family doctor does not automatically follow the patient's demands for medicines and therapies but also communicates with patients about possible alternatives. In the Netherlands and other countries in widely different sectors of society the old policy of simply fulfilling consumer's needs has been replaced by influencing customers demands. In the energy sector this development is indicated as a shift from "supply side management" to "demand side management".In housing, in psychiatric hospitalization and in social security policies to limit the use of scarce goods and services have been developed as well.
In order to know whether and how the use of goods and services can be limited it is necessary to analyze demand and supply. Some characteristics of organizations which are motivated and able to influence the demand of their goods and services are discussed.
Keywords
demand side management; fulfilling consumer's needs; influencing customer's demands; supply side management
Hrčak ID:
141531
URI
Publication date:
15.5.1997.
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