Working with Human Service Organisations - Term Paper Example

Working with Human Service Organisations Susan Wood Student ID: 110040934 Assessment 2 Organisational Study Date Introduction One can understand organizations in several ways. However, the commonly used and applicable process is with four-frame model that try to picture organizations in four distinct images. The four frame model helps those who would like to understand organization find it easy by application of these approaches (Barrett et al 2008). These issues could include organizational am development, diagnosis as well as organizational change. A wide scope of research has been done in the fields of sociology, psychology, political science and anthropology in order to come up with a comprehensive framework (Lewis et al 2007b). The frame covers four distinct areas including structural, human resource, political and symbolic aspects of understanding organizations. The research paper intend to discuss briefly , these four approaches but more so concentrate on one that is applicable in human service organizations . In more specific terms, the paper focuses on Families SA as an example of human service organization and how it uses one of the dominant frames to manage its functions. The first part includes the discussion of a dominant frame that is used by the organization while the second part is about the evaluation process of various aspects in the organization including efficiency, quality and effectiveness in its operations. Overview A human service organization refers to those organizations in society that their sole purpose is addressing the human condition within the society rather than producing products like business-oriented organizations (Lewis 2007c). These kinds of organizations run programs that address the needs of individuals, groups and communities. They carry out these duties through planning, provision and evaluation of a variety of services. They do this to prevent individual, interpersonal, community and social issues. Human service organizations are important for the concern of the welfare of a community. Australia is one community that has numerous human service organizations where these organizations fight for the rights of the disadvantaged groups in the society. Such groups include orphans, widows, disabled, marginalized communities, the poor and other groups that require special treatment. The four frame model As noted above, organizations use several frames in providing services in the society (Bromfield et al 2005). This also happens in the human service organization. Each of these frames is equated to a metal model consisting with ideas as well as assumptions that help in assembling information in a coherent manner. This process also assists in getting an ore comprehensive picture of what is taking place in an organization and steps to be taken in ensuring that operations are harmonized. In most of the human service organizations, a dominant frame is applied forte same reasons. However, it is rare to find only one frame being applied in all aspects of organizational operations. The four organizational fames have been briefly discussed below. The structural frame concentrates on the architectural aspect of an organization. This includes structure, goals, technology, relationships, roles, and coordination of the same. Therefore, structural frame focuses mostly on the organizational chart, which includes responsibilities, rules, systems, division of labor, procedures, policies as well as hierarchies that coordinate a various organizational activities as a unified effort. The main work for managers in the application of this frame is on the designing, maintenance and alignment of structural forms in connection to the prevailing circumstances, technology, the environment, tasks, as well as organizational goals. Proper reorganization and redesigning, helps to remedy any structural misalignment while rational analysis results into the development and execution of work tasks and roles, as well as the appropriate integration and coordination of group and individual efforts.  On the other hand, human resource frame concentrates on the understanding of people including their relationships. It is worth noting that people have various feelings, needs, fears, skills, prejudices, and development opportunities. This frame helps in understanding the correlation between individual and organizational needs, and the requirements and how to merge the two in order to satisfy both patties. This leads to improved production and service delivery to the clients. The third frame is the political frame that perceives organizations as arenas, jungles or contests. It focuses on competition, power, as well as winning scarce resources. The varying values, interests, beliefs, skills, behaviors offer the rich context for the delegation of resources and power (Layton 2003b). In the organization set up, People come up with agendas, bargains, negotiations, coalitions, coerce and compromise, and manage conflicts in order to keep operations moving. If such competition is not managed properly, it can act as a source of conflict. However, it leads to innovation and creativity.  The symbolic frame concentrates on organizational meaning and faith. It ensures that the hearts of the organizational members are focused on the culture of operations. Consequently, this leads to trust in an organization, which is demonstrated in the creativity and production levels. The application of rules, authority and polices is not dominant in this frame, rather culture and symbols play critical roles. Application of human resource as a dominant frame in Families SA Organizational framing concept is associated to setting of agenda, but goes an extra mile to concentrating on the essence of the issue at hand instead of a given topic (Humphreys 2007). It requires efficient communication within an organizational set up. As noted above, organizations find themselves applying more than one frame in their operations. However, always a dominant frame guides the running of organizational activities. As an example of human service organization, Families SA applies has applied human resource frame in its operations. This frame is concerned with social perspective of an organization (Higgins et el 2012). The key concept is to view employees as members of a large family where each possesses his own strengths and weaknesses. They have their own needs and desires, which should be accomplished by an organization. In this strategy, Families SA applies has tried to recognize the needs and molding its structure in order to meet the requirements of the population. The organizations have realized that employees will become more productive if they accomplish their work and being happy with its scope. Families SA is based on a family set up due to the nature of services it provides to the public, which forms its metaphor. The organization has invested a lot in the recent years in order to ensure that it employee’s qualified personnel with relevant skills. This has ensured that it is able to provide quality services to young people and especially children in the region. As noted above, the management of Families SA has strived to understand the needs of this workforce, as this is critical in ensuring that employees are happy when serving their clients. At the same time, there have been deliberate efforts to create a good working relationship among internal and external customers. Families SA has also collaborated with other organizations to provide guidance and advice when necessary. These aspects have formed the central concepts of Families SA. Further, the core role of Families SA is to ensure that young and disadvantaged children are empowered. This is through taking them from one stage to another including offering educational opportunities. This has made Families SA create a good image in leadership. It has also been able to align organizational goals and the human needs, which has achieved with several challenges. On the other hand, one of the main organizational ethics is love (Commonwealth of Australia 2009). This has been demonstrated through the passion and care with which young children are served by Families SA’s employees. In addition, Families SA has ensured that it builds its public reputation, which has seen many people volunteering to offer their services. this is one of the strategic plans which are integrated to encourage participation of the public in service delivery. The decision process has aloes been participatory, which enhances commitment. At the same time, Families SA has tried to ensure that communication process is efficient such as involvement of the community members in reporting cases of children with social difficulties. This has helped in noting the needs and desires of various stakeholders including its employees. Further, team approach is important, though the bulk of social work practice is guided within the framework of a single structure (Ozanne & Rose 2013). Communication is critical in any organization. It needs to be timely and accurate. This avoids conflicts of responsibilities and ensures proper flow of organizational functions. It is therefore important for human service organizations to ensure efficient flow of information in order to avoid any backlash. Families SA has ensured that various departments are sharing information. The main goal is ensure that service delivery and entire organizational activities are not affected due to poor communication processes. Structural as a subsidiary frame in Families SA As mentioned earlier on, structural frame outlines the architectural nature of an organization. This is includes the way an organizational chart has been structured in terms of responsibilities, roles, policies and regulations. It also involves the objectives and goals and the application of these elements in achieving the same. Therefore, structural frame can be used in understanding Families SA by analyzing the central concepts as well as other components. Poor performers in the organization interfere with smooth service delivery (AIHW 2013). On this note, it should be noted that Australian Children’s Protection Act, which was enacted in 1993, guides Families SA. Further, it has developed internal policies and regulations that ensure that service delivery is properly executed. As mentioned earlier on, FSA is committed to working with young people in the community and more specifically children. Families SA works with major stakeholders, such as the Government of South Australia as well as other non-governmental organizations, which offer residential care, out-of-home care services, adoptions, refugees, high-risk infants, unborn child concerns services and provision of culturally sensitive practices. Structural frame also analyses the goals of an organization. Families SA’s goal is the protection of children and ensuring that they are safe from any form of exploitations and to support their right from the start, so that they can become constructive members of the community. Families SA does this in collaboration with other stakeholders. The aforementioned collaboration is a deliberate realization of the importance of working with both internal and external partners in goal achievement. Each organization taking part in the collaboration has its own views to be implemented (DECD 2013a). In addition, Families SA has established internal structural mechanisms such as definition of roles and responsibilities under organizational structure. This has also helped in proper commination flow as well as conflict management. However, some of the external factors include the government, where the organization is required to abide by all regulations including taxation matters. The current evaluation in Families SA The process of evaluation in Families SA is critical as it helps in determining if the achievement of goals is on course. An evaluation of an organization may take different approaches. In Families SA, is evaluation is based on two approaches. First, the evaluators use quantity approach as a measure of its effectiveness in service delivery to the affected children. In using quantity as a measure, the evaluators assess the number of new affected children who have been assisted by Families SA. In recent years, Families SA has assisted thousands of children all over South Australia. The other method is through quality analysis based on the services provided. This is measured through some tests such as performance of children in educational centers as well as carrying out surveys by interviewing community members on how they feel about the services offered by Families SA. Some of the strategies put in place to deliver quality services include taking children from the families into alternative care placements such as schools as well as providing adequate food and clothing. Further, necessary environment required for the healthy growth of children is provided. Analysis of the Families SA’s quality, efficiency and effectiveness As mentioned earlier, Families SA applies human resource frame as a dominant concept in its operation. This is because Families SA services take a social perspective. In this connection, quality services refers to the standards of services offered top the young children by the human resource of the Families SA .Therefore, the people-aspect becomes the core ingredient in service delivery. In ensuring that quality services are offered, competent workforce is put in place through competitive recruitment and placement process. Further, Families SA has ensured quality services through collaboration with the government and other service providers .This is through addressing safety and protection of the children in their homes and other places. In addition, the organization gives guiding, counseling and support to the affected children to assist them to lead normal lives (Martin, 2002, pp171). Recovery from the experiences these children might have undergone is attained through a set of coping strategies that are learned gradually as they adapt to their new life situations. They have learned how to cope with life, which they could not have attained if they would continue to stay with their parents or their caregivers. Effectiveness of services offered by Families SA refers to the impacts and the changes they are bringing to these young children. It also refers to the changes the human resource is able to bring the organization and the influence on the attainment of goals. The evaluation process is done through setting of targets at both individual and organizational levels (Gardner 2006). This includes ensuring the performance of children has gone at a given level, the scope of coverage and so on. Employees are made to understand that there is need to meet targets but more so providing quality services in order to influence the lives of these children. This ensures the effectiveness of the services provided. Finally, under human resource frame, and in relation to Families SA, efficiency is meeting the preplanned goals within the budgeted time and cost. The also includes the quality of the actual performance in an organization. In Families SA, frequent internal and external communication is done. This is accompanied with regular reviews and updates, which help in reminding employees the status of their performance as well as of the entire organization. The planned objectives are compared with the actual performance to measure the efficiency of services. Bibliography Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2013, 'Child protection Australia 2011-12', Child Welfare, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra, Barrett, W, Christensen, D and Todahl, J 2008, Solution based casework: An introduction to clinical and case management skills in casework practice, Aldine Transaction, U.S.A. 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(2013). “The organization context of human services practice.” 1st Ed. Palgrave McMillan South Yara Australia; Victoria. Read More