ABSTRACT
Regional agencies such as Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) which are outside the traditional governmental structure and which have specific regional responsibilities periodically face the challenge of change from both internal and external forces. In announcing the new reorganization TVA officially recognized the new 'corporate' thinking. The MEREC program was no doubt also attractive to TVA because it brought in external funding from another federal agency to support staff salaries at a time of decreasing support in Congress for appropriated funds. The TVA Board and top management made a major effort to inform TVA employees of the strategic plan and to address the concerns of employees over workplace problems. The report claimed that the present structure of the TVA Board caused 'group think' and lead to the failure of the TVA nuclear power program. Marvin T. Runyon promoted a participatory theory of management - one that would bring all involved people into the process.
