Management Theory in Oxfam Charity and Global Poverty Organization - Essay Example

? A Report on Management Theory in Oxfam Charity and Global Poverty Organization Table of contents 0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………3 1.1 Management………………………………………………………………………………...3 1.2 Management theory……………………………………………………………………..….3 1.3 Competing value framework……………………………………………………………….4 2.0 Application……………………………………………………………………………….…5 2.1 Oxfam Charity organization…………………………………………………………………5 2.2 Oxfam management evaluation……………………………………………………………..5 3.0 The challenge……………………………………………………………………………….8 3.1 Corporate social responsibility……………………………………………………………..8 4.0 Recommendations………………………………………………………………………….9 5.0 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………….10 6.0 Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………11 7.0 Bibliographies………………………….………………………………………………….12 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Management Management in any business firm or organizational activities refers to the process, and act of bringing people together as a team (Lin, 2001). This is to work towards the accomplishment of set objectives through the efficient utilization of the present resources. These management actions include activities and processes such as organizing, planning, staffing, leading, directing or controlling an organization or business among others towards the main purpose and objectives. It also involves the act of resourcing which refers to the utilization and control of an organizational resource which include the financial, human, natural, and technological resources. In view of organizations as systems, it can also be defined in terms of human action and design in facilitation of achievement of desired results (Daft and Lengel, 1984). This is a fundamental view as it provides the opportunity to manage oneself which is a prerequisite to the management of others. Good for management positioned individuals in an organization. 1.2 Management theory According to Hollahan, 2003 management theory can be defined as the study on how to improve the total productivity of all personnel in the business firm or organization. It involves learning on how to manage personnel with the intent to improve and maximize the productivity of the firm. The aim of business management is to maximize productivity, and while management theory aims towards getting a team of individuals to achieve a certain objective it. However, this does not necessarily achieve in improving individual productivity towards the aimed at objective. Management is both an art and a science hence various improvement techniques employed. 1.3 Competing value framework The competing value framework in management helps and allows the leadership teams in organizations to understand the background and adopt thinking that infers to the foundation of various management philosophies. It integrates the four different values showing the competitive ideologies between each also the importance of each individually. The values being of no equal importance in various cases the model goes further to suggest the integration of the different models. This is by maintaining a balance between them to achieve maximum efficiency in productivity. Never the less most managements study the awareness of each and consider which of the models closely matches with their leadership structures, styles and philosophies, all incorporating the achievement needs of the organization. Examples of some of these model theories are inclusive of human resources model, human systems, rational goal, and internal process model (Ledingham and Brunning, 1998). The competing value framework used for various objectives such as in choosing the theory model to apply for an organization. This aids in the motivation techniques of the employees, and aids leaders in the act for leadership and direction (Michael, 2002). It is key for leaders to learn on how to deal with challenges that arise in the work place, this entails dealing with them simultaneously, and effectively to maintain or improve the level productivity. In management one has to balance various tasks and familiarize with and select a management theory that effectively fits in with the organizational structure and goals. As well as being a current way to apply theories of management in the organization competing value frameworks, it is a potential tool for future finalization of organizations. This sets up of strategies for management. 2.0 Application 2.1 Oxfam charity organization Oxfam charity organization is an international organization that comprises of an amalgamation of 15 different organizations working together. This is in the establishment of, permanent effective, solutions to poverty, and injustice within various regions of the world. The organization is active in over 90 countries within the world with partners and allies around many parts of the world. This is even in those it is not yet active in, but aims at increasing the number of member countries. It works directly with communities seeking to influence the upper level community members in aim of ensuring that poor people can effectively improve their livelihoods. This is so they also get to take part in planning and decision making that influences them. The organization joins with other parties and stake holders to eradicate poverty and injustice through campaigns and emergency response tactics. This guided by the belief that respect for human rights is the key to lifting people out of poverty (Kattie, 2009). 2.2 Oxfam management evaluation The Oxfam organization like many other charitable organizations deals with aiding humanity to achieve best livelihoods within the people and health and due to this there exists competition between the organizations such as in the conduct of activities, handling the large populations and the obtaining of funds from various donors. In relation to swot analysis of organizations, the fact that Oxfam is a combination of various organizations gives it strength over the other organizations in that it has various resources of the many organizations at its disposal as opposed to single organizations and the fact that due to this same reason it can effectively serve greater regions hence maximize the attainment of its objectives in lesser time periods. An organization as Oxfam being a conglomerate of various organizations also arises to be the root of its challenges in operations and achievement of its objectives. This is to say that due to this having accountability to the various heads of the different member organs decision making becomes slow due to having to consider various different ideas and having to confirm with all of them. The process of joining the different operational regulations and techniques of the different organizations to one is also an extremely large challenge to the operation of Oxfam and to the achievement of its objectives (Oxford, 1992). Again, in accordance to porter’s five principles, Oxfam organization considers competition and the entrance of new organizations into the market of employing measures to combat poverty and to enhance livelihoods as comrades at work. This means that they embrace such entrances and find ways for both the different organizations goals and activities to work together at the same time and achieve their goals. They do realize that poverty eradication is a complex issue that must be handled with urgency and hence the incorporation of many organizations to this cause will help in attaining poverty eradication and improvement of livelihoods for the communities faster than if it were the only industry working towards this cause. It puts the needs of the communities and achievement of its set objectives forehand to the personal development of the organization and its essential credibility status. It also makes use of its power gained from the various donors in the achievement of its objectives to the poor communities and as well as the same communities in the achievement of the same objectives. This is to say that they ensure that they use all their available and obtained supplier power in the communities to enhance the members to attain decent livelihoods and once some communities have attained average livelihoods they urge and incorporated back into the Oxfam procedure so as to try and give back to their communities in the sense of helping the other remaining poor members of the community. According to analysis Oxfam could be said to apply the use of various forms of management models incorporating the use of the aspects of management models. Use of the quality model which emphasizes the attainment of customer service and continuous improvement of the services that they offer. The main area of focus on continuous improvement through the application of measurement tools, and statistical processes begun after the world war two. It has been on the improvement status itself. This is an integrated management model that emphasizes the principle of giving quality services to the people and to meet the customer requirements through achievement of its objectives. The assumption of this model is that continual improvement quality services production can be maintained and achieved through paying attention to customers and public demands and requirement by all the members of the organization and addition of value at each stage within the operational process of the organizational structure. This model put considerable emphasis on empowerment of the people, employees’ empowerment, continual improvement and offering of their services through the application of the best possible practices (Jason, 1996). The organization uses tools of measurement and evaluation, a team approach of all the member organizations to problem solving, benchmarking, the application of multilevel and multifunctional teams and a high communication model and state with the donors, member stakeholders, other organizations offering the same services and the requirements of the target people on the ground. The leader facilitates the quality process at their best to match the expected requirement of the people who also more often than not are supportive to the activities of the organization, want to contribute as much as they can and be part of the quality service providing organization in the achievement of their objectives hence provide them with better and improved livelihood conditions. The emergence of the social media has enabled and enhanced communication and interrelations between the organization, the stake holders and the target communities for the services offered. The open source structure allows for easy, faster, reliable and wide viewing of the messages hence allowing for their challenging, criticism editing and refining creating enormous chances for the message dissemination and full stake holder’s involvement. On evaluation of this model and the way incorporated in the organization, I would say it is the best model for use as it ensures that the objectives and responsibility of the organization to service delivery to the public put in first consideration and importance. This ensures that it has the desired impact on the livelihoods of the communities and eradicates chances of turning into a competitive and financial organization on the expense of achieving its objectives. 3.0 The challenge 3.1 Corporate social responsibility Corporate social responsibility is a form of personal corporate self regulation and evaluation integrated in the organizational structure and the activities of the organization. It entails that the organization is active and compliant with the rule of law, the regional ethical standards and the international norms and regulations. Oxfam’s social responsibilities lie to the communities in which they provide services with their national structural regulations, their numerous employees and the stake holders of the organization and are one of the major challenges that the organization faces in its operations and achievement of its objectives. The main aim of this responsibility is to achieve responsibility for the organizations activities and to encourage a positive impact through the various activities on the regions, public, employees, and the stake holders. This responsibility of the organization ensures that they own up to the promises, delivery, and effects of these promised activities on the ground. This ensures that the strategies that they use are both acceptable by law and the stakeholders. It also ensures, critical self evaluation, on the activities that they engage in to ensure that they are of the best interests of the people (Ledingham, 2003). Never of the organization or some greedy persons within the organization's structure. In other words, it has gone majorly far in ensuring that the organization, in addition to providing essential services, to the people and attaining its objectives it takes care of its responsibilities to the stake holders, the regions government and the employees. As such a suitable and friendly working environment and relationship established with the various aspects in play such as the employees, governing bodies and stake holders. This challenge of social responsibility has been especially crucial in relations with the various regional heading governments arising various political disputes and political issues interfering with the structure and functioning of the firms activities such as happened in china in the year 2002. 4.0 Recommendations A sure way of ensuring that organizational management does not stray away from the set objectives and expected norms of conduct such is the importance to incorporate a well established and effective theory model that encompasses all the ideologies of the organ. To ensure maximum advantage from management and theory models it is ideal to employ integration of the various aspects of the different models to come up with a “perfect model” for such functional requirement of the specific organization set up for (Kennan and Hazleton, 2006). The new integrated model should be of a nature such that it incorporates all of the aspects involving development, improvement and maintenance of the nature and structure of the organization. This include s all aspects of ethical, social and political responsibilities to the organization itself, its employees, the stake holders, the communities and the regional governments in the states they inhabit. 5.0 Conclusions In relation to the introduction management theory is the application of various measures to improve the performance and productivity of an organization through proper evaluation and modification of the various functional units within the organizational structure. As seen there are various forms of theory models to choose from, and this is in accordance with the nature of the organization's structure, and functional basis and objectives. Employment of the competing value frame work within the organization goes far in streamlining challenges and issue relating to management and theory models within the organization thus resulting into improved performance and productivity. 6.0 Appendix: Structural Organizational Model (Michael, 2002)   Service provider power   THREAT OF NEW ORGANISATIONAL ENTRANTS THREAT OF ORGANISATIONAL SUBSTITUTES   PUBLIC POWER 7.0 Bibliographies Daft, R. and Lengel, R. (1984). Social Relations Online: an introduction. London: Sage publishers. Hallahan, K. (2003). Corporate Public Responsibility: an introduction. London: Sage publishers. Jason, C. (1996). Leadership challenge: management structure models. Wiley-Blackwell: Blackwell publishers. Kattie, B. (2009). How Oxfam uses social media for social good. Social Media Public Journal. Kennan, W. and Hazleton, V. (2006). New Media and Public Relations. New York: Peter Lang. Ledingham, J. (2003). Explicating relationship management as a general theory of public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research. Ledingham, J. and Bruning, S. (1998). Corporate management in public relations: Dimensions of an organization-public relationship. Public Relations Review journal Lin, N. (2001). New Media and organizational structure theories. New York: Peter Lang. Michael, W. (2002). Models for organizational management. New York: Westmont publishers. Oxford, A. (1992). Organisational management: an introduction. Wiley-Blackwell: Blackwell publishers. . Read More