The impact of AIDS on the organizational development of nongovernmental organizations: A case study on Casa de Assistência Filadélfia

Abstract

AIDS has been a. unique event due not only to its devastating effects, but also to the ways in which it has stimulated solidarity and mobilization of society in the defense of the rights of persons living with HTV/AIDS and their families, friends, and contacts. Beginningas initiatives to ensure dignity in death, AIDS NGOs have undergone structural changes to respond to the demands raised by the epidemic. The current study describes the history of the Brazilian AIDS NGO "Casa de Assistência Filadélfia" in relation to the evolution of the AIDS epidemic, highlighting the issue of organizational development. A qualitative case study methodology was used, and the data were collected from document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key informants identified by the organization. Data, analysis was based on the theoretical premises of organizational development and shows how the organization made the transition, from, the pioneering pitase marked by improvisation and expanded to a phase of regulation until reaching flexibility and innovation by diversifying its projects. Trie study highlights the importance of organizational development as an essential element in building healthy, agile organizations in the response to their demands.