What does goal displacement in an HSO refer to?

Goal displacement in a human service organization (HSO) occurs when the means used to achieve the organization's original goals become the primary focus or end in themselves. This phenomenon often leads to a drift from the organization's original mission, as resources, efforts, and attention are diverted toward maintaining and optimizing these means, even if they no longer effectively serve the intended purpose.

In practical terms, this could manifest as an organization placing excessive emphasis on processes, protocols, or methodologies that are meant to support its mission, instead of concentrating on the actual objectives those means were designed to achieve. For example, a nonprofit that exists to provide food assistance may become overly focused on the efficiency of its delivery system, neglecting the critical goal of actually alleviating hunger among clients. This shift can result in a loss of sight of the organization's original mission and can dilute its effectiveness in serving the community.

This aspect of goal displacement highlights the importance of regularly assessing and realigning an organization's activities with its foundational goals to ensure that it remains true to its mission and serves its intended purpose effectively.