Urban crisis change efforts: the NAB and NUC

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to compare the National Alliance of Businessmen and the National Urban Coalition, two change efforts spawned during the 1960’s US Urban Crisis, in which businesses took a central role to address urban problems, particularly through expanding opportunities for African-Americans.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a historical comparative case study developed through research utilizing published resources and archival material.

Findings

Neither organization clearly achieved its initial goals, with each migrating toward the end of its existence away from business-related goals to focus on public education. Potential causes include economic obstacles, a heroic conception of change that fostered overcommitment, and conflicting institutional logics in the organization’s missions, both of which were intertwined with governmental objectives from their foundings. However, the period shows overall changes in social awareness by business, in which these organizations played a part, and efforts by today’s businesses to respond to racial tensions in cities display learning from these predecessor organizations.

Research limitations/implications

A significant dependence on published sources limits the depth of insight versus accessing organizational archives; however, it does offer a similar basis for information on both organizations to facilitate comparisons.

Practical implications

The structural vulnerabilities of these organizations can present lessons for organizations hoping to pursue similar change through business partnerships today.

Social implications

The racial tensions continuing in the USA today display parallel the challenges of the 1960s, making learning from these precedents valuable.

Originality/value

This study offers a comparative view of the NAB and NUC throughout their history, which has not previously been provided.

Citation

Singleton, L.G. (2018), "Urban crisis change efforts: the NAB and NUC", Journal of Management History, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 208-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMH-02-2018-0014