Underlying Theoretical Ideology
Why is it essential to establish
an underlying theoretical ideology before
building a principles-based systems-oriented
body of knowledge?
Three short white papers present our case in the following way:
The Emergence of the Association Management Profession This piece describes the emergence of association management as a profession and the challenges that have arisen as a result.
Membership-based Organizations as Agents of Social Change This piece provides a special definition for these distinctive institutions and describes how they are different from other nonprofit and for-profit organizations. And because of that difference, they require their own body of knowledge.
Developing a Broad Theoretical Framework for Membership-based Organizations This piece introduces the theory of human ecology and explains its relevance to understanding why indivduals mobilize to address a threat or challenge in their environment. It also provides a theoretical framework for understanding the emergence, formation, development and ongoing sustainability of membership-based organizations.