RESUMO
The Association Demografica Salvadorena (ADS) learned an important lesson during 1983--a contraceptive social markeing (CSM) program needs continuity of management to ensure that all components remain inegrated and all actions are coordinated within the organization. Ever since in early 1983, ADS has not had an executive specifically assigned to run the CSM project and make the important month-by-month, tactical decisions that keep a program's activities focused on meeting sales goals. Instead, executive tasks were delegated on an ad hoc basis to ADS' administrative staff. Fortunately, the program's administrative design was well-developed, and ADS' dedicated personnel were able to effectively accomplish the daily business of keeping records and getting products out to retailers. Advertising, promotion and product development suffered, however. So the new executive or general manager will need to examine these areas 1st. Although El Salvador's CSM operates in unstable social and economic conditions, and despite a dramatic fall in condom sales last year, the ADS can still do much to increase its couple years of protection at costs significantly lower than those of clinic and community-based distribution systems. Research done thus far indicates a substantial demand for ADS products. Consequently, while not set in ideal conditions, physical distribution and marketing functions can be accomplished. But, as the ADS has discovered, even with a strong leader like Dr. Gustavo Argueta, CSM enterprises do not function automatically. Producing projected sales goals depends on the continuity of "hands-on" management.