When policy and practice collide : a structuration approach examining the failure to unify an organization

Understanding Giddens’ (1984) structuration approach clarifies the complex nature of the interaction between organisations and the policies that guide them. Central to this paper is a consideration of organisational integration and the extent to which this is achieved, as directed within policy bounds. The example of the Australian Regular Army and the Army Reserve demonstrates a failure to integrate under policy direction. In this case study it becomes clear that external events, not policy, lead to organisation change. Content and frequency distribution analyses are used to examine the data supporting this contention.