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PROPOSITIONS TO BE EXPLORED
PART B: PROPOSITIONS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS The research question is simply how and why did the IHDT continue to move ahead in the quest to "reinvent" government when other agencies have floundered. Whereas conventional quantitative research dictates the posting of a hypothesis a priori to be tested, this study will use the qualitative approach of posing propositions which will be explored. Because the outcome of the IHDT process (the recommendations) is already completed, the purpose of this study is to explore the factors leading to that output. It will examined under four primary components. Those four include 1.) the agenda setting process, 2.) factors that influence the decision making process, 3.) why recommendations were made to dismantle the bureaucracy, and 4.) the implications of those recommendations as power and authority are transferred. Although it is recognized that the boundaries of these components may overlap, it provides a framework for exploration and discussion. Within this framework, the following propositions are generated: 1.) While the current fervor to "reinvent" government has been fueled by recent campaign promises and political "buzz words", the Indian Health Service’s attempt to reorganize its power structure is not just a passing political fad, but a natural evolution of federal Indian policy. 2.) The concepts of "self-determination" and tribal sovereignty are the primary determinants of the decision making processes of the IHDT. These ingrained, immutable and universal values held by members of the IHDT assists in overcoming the barriers confronted while resolving controversial issues. 3.) It is the belief that changing the structure of bureaucracy is tantamount to changing the possession of power. A power and authority shift constitutes a threat to existing structures and creates a situation of conflict which engenders some form of compromise between the beliefs and values of IHDT members and external forces represented by the current structure. A conceptual map of the project illustrates these points more clearly (See page 7). Plotted on a time line, the two streams of energy of government attitude as reflected by policy, and the level of activism of both Indian and non-Indian activities toward Self-Determination illustrate the evolutionary nature of the process. The schism between government control and self-determination represent relational aspects of power and authority. Finally, perceptions of bureaucracy as a viable structure for governance is plotted in this timeline. They are depicted as streams of energy that affect the outcome the IHDT recommendations. The subsequent literature review will address each of these concepts in detail. The relevance of these themes are stated in my propositions. Inter- views with members of the IHDT will explore their feelings on whether my propositions are valid. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with members of the Indian Health Design Team will be used to collect data, and a grounded theory protocol will be used to analyze the data. In Chapter III: Methodology, the rationale and processes for data collection and analysis will be discussed. Finally, a summary of the proposal will be provided to include future research possibilities that its findings may elicit. Appendices will include a Work Time Table for completion of the project and the interview questions that were designed to explore the validity of the propositions.
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