M.A. (Socialis Scientiae) / The gist of this extended essay is an exploration of the skills necessary to perform the planning function in management. The text is presented in two parts - a literature study and a documentation of the findings of an empirical investigation. In order to place the planning function in perspective the candidate starts by defining management as such and then discusses management in the research domain in which three specialist fields converge - management science, social work and health. Since the respondents function within the boundaries of a government setting, the influence of beaurocracy on management is included in the discussion. Subsequently all the managerial functions are described and the candidate indicates why planning is seen as the primary managerial function - it precedes all the other functions and in addition to having the status of an independent generic function, it is implicitly imbedded in the other functions. Eight categories of skills required in planning are identified: Visionary, projection, analytical, political, interactional, value-clarification, decision-making, and time-management skills. In each of these categories some abilities on the part of those who plan are indicated. The candidate then suggests a model for planning based on the literature that could be used in developing an integrated planning system for medical social workers. In the empirical part of the study the candidate attempts answering the following questions: 1. Are all the skills as mentioned in fact used by the respondents (in this case the top management section of the sub directorate of Social Work of the Branch: Health Services of the Transvaal Provincial Administration) and if they are used, how often? 2. With regard to which of these skills do respondents require extended training? Findings indicate that the respondents apply all 8 categories of skills and regard the majority of the 50 abilities as prerequisites. Learning needs were reported in respect of 13 of the abilities listed. Throughout this study the significance of the planning function in management is emphasized and the argument that managers need to develop specific knowledge and skills in order to perform effectively and efficiently is furthered.

Bibliography: leaves 136-141. / This is an exploratory study using a qualitative approach. This study attempts to explore the nature of makgotla found in the rural community of Ramokgopa. It examines the structure and operation, nature of services rendered, successes, areas of concern as well as the role of makgotla played in community development. The primary objective was to assess the viability of makgotla as a vehicle for development in rural communities. Data was collected via in-depth interviews, and using a community-forum approach. Eleven headmen/key members and five consumers of services were selected for interviewing. Two community meetings were also held for the same purpose. The study found that makgotla have taken initiatives and efforts to develop their own community. This is in spite of the fact that there are areas of concern like gender sensitivity that need to be addressed. The study concludes with some recommendations, one of them being that local government officials be made aware of the presence of makgotla and how best to engage in a dialogue which will reap benefits for the community.

This dissertation addresses the following research question. Do the criteria by which organizations assess the benefits of entering into interagency agreements vary by city? Employing data obtained from 183 human service agencies in six western cities, organizational emphases on two classes of goals as they relate to the decision to interact with other agencies are assessed as functions of six organizational variables and city. The organizational variables include organizational goal, reliance on federal sources for funding, and a range of environmental uncertainty measures. The two classes of organizational goals studied are: first, those which directly accrue to the agency itself, and second, those which accrue directly to entities outside the organization. Findings suggest that while emphases on intraorganizational goals are invariant between cities, those pertaining to extra-organizational entities may well vary between locales. These findings bear theoretical implications for the future study of organizations, and practical implications for entities seeking to develop programs or regulations for application across broadly defined jurisdictions.

No description available.

Lau Chung-Ming, Leung Kam-Hung. / Includes one organizational chart (folded) and 2 leaves of abstracts in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-99).

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

非政府社會服務機構作為第三部門，於社會福利服務擔當重要角色。由於近年的全球化引致社會問題性質複雜化，以及本地政經環境的挑戰，令非政府社會服務機構面對不少前所未有的困難。如能有效掌握建制對機構的規範、與提供資源者互相依存的關係，將有助機構成功的生存和發展。 / 管理者與前線社會工作者是兩群主要面對上述困難的相關人員，他們如何理解現況、管理者會作出何種應對策略、前線社工又如何反應等都是值得深入研究的課題。 / 管理者及前線社會工作者是本研究的主要研究對象，本研究成功訪問了17位管理者及11 位前線社會工作者。研究發現管理者普遍關心機構的財政穩健情況。基於管理者的關注角度，機構所採納的策略傾向是配合建制規範、擴展服務及資源、提升資助者及服務使用者對機構的信任度。可是這等機構策略卻換來前線社會工作者的負面回應，尤其被認為是導致低工作滿足感及士氣低落的成因。前線社工關心的是專業形象及個人的身心健康。除了注重制度化的認受性及爭取資源外，本研究建議機構宜多促進前線社工對機構使命及目標的共同承擔。此外有鑑機構於公民社會的參與及倡導工作承擔的有限性，建議宜提升此方面的關注。 / It is generally agreed that Non-Governmental Social Service Organizations (NGSSOs) play specific roles as part of the third sector in the process of social welfare service provision. However, due to the globalized and structural nature of the emerging social problems, as well as the local challenges, NGSSOs are experiencing difficulties in reaching their goals and performing their missions. To manage well the institutional rules and the interdependent relation with the environment may lead to effective organizational survival and development. Management staff as well as frontline social workers are two major parties who may have significant responses upon these challenges and difficulties. How these two groups perceive the current situation, how management staff decide to adopt whichever kind of organizational strategies; whereas how frontline social workers respond to these organization policies are areas worth for study. / In this study, organization leaders and frontline social workers were selected as the study target. A total of 17 management staff and 11 frontline social workers were interviewed. It is revealed that NGSSO management staff concern most with the financial stability and viability of their organizations. Under such an orientation, organizational strategies adopted by these leaders relate largely to compromising to institutional rules, expanding services and resources, and increasing organizational credibility among funders and service users. These organization-wide behaviors have turned out to have negative effects on job satisfaction and work atmosphere among frontline social workers. Comparing to their supervisor counterpart, they concern more about their professional identity and subjective well being. / Apart from gaining institutional legitimacy and environment resources, it is recommended that NGSSOs may put extra effort in promoting shared mission and organizational goals among their frontline staff. It was also found that representing civil society and doing advocacy work do not take high priority among NGSSO informants. It is suggested that NGSSOs focus more on this area and readjust the balance of being a service provider and an active member of civil society. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Au, Kit Ying Anita = 香港非政府社會服務機構的機構生存與發展策略 / 區潔盈. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 313-348). / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendixes includes Chinese. / Au, Kit Ying Anita = Xianggang fei zheng fu she hui fu wu ji gou de ji gou sheng cun yu fa zhan ce lüe / Qu Jieying.

by Wong Yuk Ming. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 97-101. / Library's copy: Author's copy (c.2) has different pagination: vii, 98 p.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.