Org Theories & Perspectives
This theory says that in attempting to satisfy the majority of voters or desires of lawmakers in power, the government is unable to meet the needs of all segments of society, leaving nonprofits to address the void.
What is Government Failure Theory?
Hunger and Health Coalition is an example.
What is a Nonprofit organization?
This is the last step in the PREPARE process and involves deciding whether the proposed change should be implemented.
What is Evaluate the potential success of the change process?
The book defines organizational culture as “a pattern of basic assumptions—invented, discovered, or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration—that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to those problems.” Please translate into your own words or understanding of organizational culture.
Great job!
Describe a time (at your field placement or another job or agency) where you have seen someone help or encourage a client to harness their own power to get what they need.
Perfect example!
This theory says that businesses are designed to make money and do not want to sacrifice profit to provide “public goods," so nonprofits address the void.
What is Market Failure Theory?
Alcoholics Anonymous is an example.
What is a Self-Help group?
This is step 4 in the PREPARE process, which doesn't really start with the letter "P."
What is Identify relevant people of influence?
Tell us about your experience with an organization whose culture truly aligned with their values.
Love that example!
The book describes one dimension of empowerment as “development of a more positive and potent sense of self.” How does this concept apply to an organization?
Having a coherent philosophy and goals that build on the strengths of the organization
The three levels of this theory include 1) artifacts, 2) espoused beliefs and values, and 3) basic underlying assumptions.
What is Organizational Culture Theory?
Stick Boy Bread Company is an example.
What is a For-Profit organization?
This is step 6 in the PREPARE process, where you think primarily about yourself.
What is Review professional and personal risks.
Explain why a macro social worker might care about organizational culture from the perspective of the organization’s consumers.
Organizational culture can set an important tone for promoting the dignity and rights of consumers of services, while managing and resisting negative stigmatization of consumers.
Tell us about a time you have seen an organization do either a terrible job or a really great job at embracing human diversity and inclusion. If the organization did a terrible job, how could they have done better?
Great answer!
Examples of this theory include limited rationality in an organization due to loyalties toward a certain group or the inability to know all variables that influence a decision.
What is Decision-Making Theory?
The Health Department is an example.
What is Public agency or organization?
In step 3 of the PREPARE process, you do this.
What is establish primary goals?
Explain why the leader of an organization (a quintessentially macro position!) must engage in micro work with their employees and their organization’s consumers.
The organization’s directors or leaders must create a cohesive group environment where everyone feels comfortable voicing concerns and problem solving how to best help consumers. A focus must be on achieving organizational excellence rather than personality or role. Without happy employees, you won’t find many happy consumers.
Give two examples of ways an organization or agency can use its physical building or space to foster an environment of diversity and inclusion?
Having art and decorations that feel comfortable and representative to diverse consumers, having signs or literature available in languages used by non-English-speaking consumers, being accessible to people of all abilities, etc
These two theories question everything about the status quo in organizations and espouse the need for critical thinking to fend off potential ethical conflicts or unintended consequences that may be overlooked in organizational work.
What are Critical Theory and Feminist Theory?
A river clean up crew is an example.
What is an informal organization?
This is step 2 of the PREPARE process, where you consider the constraints to change, including the political climate and cultural components.
What is Review your macro and personal reality?
How might you as a macro social worker conduct a holistic assessment of an organization’s culture? What elements are you looking at?
Leadership as role models, rituals (celebrations and honors), manner of communication/ patterns of interaction
Physical building - accessibility, maintained, appropriate, decorations, proximity to consumers, space occupied by consumers vs employees
Statements about itself and services - annual reports, press releases, policy and procedure manuals, educational materials designed for consumers, brochures
Observe consumers - how are they treated when they walk in
Observe staff - how do they spend their time, interpersonal interactions, formal vs casual, is humor involved?
Interview staff - perception of org history, successes + failures, average employment length, recruitment procedures, reward systems
In your own words, explain how people are empowered by social workers embracing the “paradox that even people most incompetent, in need, and apparently unable to function require more [rather] than less control over their own lives; and that fostering more control does not necessarily mean ignoring them.”
That was so well-stated!