Abstract
This article presents a theoretical framework through the application of interorganizational theory to study empirically autonomy issues of self-help organizations in contractual relationships with local governments. Firstly, why and how contractual relationships between self-help organizations and local governments emerge and are maintained was indicated from the institutional perspective as "institutional isomorphism" in the service delivery framework of welfare pluralism, and from the resource dependence perspective as the stabilization of "resource exchange". In addition, the different ways to respond to the power imbalance were explained respectively. Finally, in order to manage to maintain autonomy, to avoid dependence on governmental agencies and to magnify own power, six strategies for self-help organizations were derived hypothetical : (1)the criticality of the resource, (2)the availability of alternatives, (the suppliers and the resources) (3)the magnification of organization sizes, (4)the change of organization structures, (5)the organizational prestige, (6)the promotion of communications. However, the power balances that would arise from the strategic balancing operations by self-help organizations seem to be unstable because of internal/external organizational reasons such as conflicts, oppositions and environmental influences. Therefore it will be necessary to assess empirically in view of interorganizational dynamism.
