Understanding Community Work - Literature review Example

REPORT ON: UNDЕRSTАNDING СОMMUNITY WОRK. Student’s name Professor’s name Course title Date Executive summary As noted by McKee (2012), that working together brings about many benefits to a community, it is important therefore that effective structures, networks and policies be established that allow community members work together. I believe that working together as a community is far much better than community members working in isolation. Togetherness, as noted by Gutierrez-Montes, Emery, & Fernandez-Baca (2009), brings about the much desired change in a community. Development of the best approach to working with the community is the first step towards attainment of community development. It is important therefore that community leaders establish best approaches to working with the community if the much desired developments and consequent success are to be achieved. Community participation has been classified as the most important success factor in as far as achievement of community development is concerned. Community leaders should develop structures that allow community members get engaged in community work and even in decision making. This report has therefore made an analysis of how the course contributed to a clear understanding of the community, approaches to community and how to effectively work with the community. Understanding the community A community is defined as a group of people living together sharing common beliefs and behaviours. In a community, there are shared beliefs, norms and also shared problems (McKee, 2012). Having a common goal of overcoming shared problems facing the members of a community; it is paramount that each and every member of a community develops a virtue of love and caring towards each other (Bay, 2012). I have come to learn working together as partners in a community is important in overcoming social economic problems and offering long lasting solutions. Working with the community is an interesting, rewarding and fulfilling experience because through community forums, you meet new people; learn new things and you get a clear understanding of what a community is and how it operates. I have also learnt that the easiest way of solving joint social economic problems facing a community is by working as partners and putting together resources rather than working in isolation The main reason why members of a community put together their resources is because of a common goal that needs to be achieved. Brogden, Nijhar, Ellison, & Roberts (2005) note that it is the common problems that jointly face a community that make them work together. Problems facing a community are varied, ranging from health problems, security problems, problems associated with poverty as well as housing. Infact, Mitrzyk (2008) specifically spell out that most problems that a community faces are in relation to health and security. It is not enough to only look for solutions to problems that face a community at a particular point in time, but it is important to develop structures and developments that will enhance availability of long term solutions besides preventing problems from recurring in future. McKee (2012) affirms that when strong networks, structures and developments that enhance togetherness are developed in a community setup, most community problems are solved. Through the development of strong community structures and networks together will encouragement of partnerships, most social economic problems that jointly face a community are solved. For instance, insecurity being one of the major social problems facing a community must be rightfully addressed. This is because insecurity brings about fear, forcing members of a community leave in total fear. This however affects productivity level in the community , leading to reduced income , housing problems, increased health problems and consequently, poor standards of living in the long run. Through the course, I developed a more concrete understanding of the community and how the community works. The understanding of the community and how developed structures therein work triggered the desire in me to bring about change and consequently offer possible solutions to day to day problems jointly affecting my community members. Additionally, through the concepts instilled in me by the course, I developed an understanding that it is only through strong community networks, structures and policies that social economic problems are solved. Additionally, I leant that when a spirit of togetherness is natured in a community, community relations are strengthened and objectives are easily achieved. The course impacted positively on me by fostering my understanding of the community environment and how to fast truck community developments. Approaches to community Through the course, I learnt that there are various approaches to working with the community but the applicability of an approach is determined by various factors. Infact, Gutierrez-Montes, Emery, & Fernandez-Baca (2009) noted that the approach to working with a community is determined by factors such as the role of the community in community development, the process involved in community development and the directives involved in community development. I learnt that development of projects that specifically address community needs is important. Most often, projects developed in a community setup fail because of the failure of project implementers to undertake a feasibility study and clearly identify specific problems facing the community. However, I learnt that an understanding of community problems is not the only guarantee to success of community projects per se. I learnt that besides identification of community problems, community input inform of participation is key towards success of community projects. I learnt that contributions to the community can be made through voluntary donations and participation in community decision making. Through the course, I developed an understanding of techniques that enhance equitable community development. According to Martinez-Cosio & Bussell (2012), an understanding of the best approach o working with the community is always the first move towards attaining community development. Martinez-Cosio & Bussell (2012) further note that different circumstances call for different approaches to working with the community and therefore an understanding of community approaches and circumstances under which they are applicable is important. Development of effective structures that ensure that community needs are identified and that community participation is encouraged is key towards establishment of solutions to joint social economic problems facing the community (Fraser, 2005). To fast truck community development, all stakeholders like the government, the community and partners should be involved in implementation of community projects. Through the course, I developed the feeling of the need to find solutions facing the community using the various approaches to community. As noted earlier, it is not only enough to specifically identify and address problems facing the community. However, it is important to actively involve the community. Community participation plays a great role towards attaining a breakthrough in problems jointly affecting the community. In my opinion therefore, unity among the stakeholders like the government and partners is key towards attainment of community success. The course impacted positively on me by enabling me develop techniques and mechanisms that encourage, nature and enhance community participation. I believe the government being the biggest resource owner, should be in the forefront in fighting for community development. The government contributes towards community development through provision of resources and development of structures and mechanisms that empower the community as a whole. Infact, according to Martinez-Cosio & Bussell (2012), the government should provide the members of a community with resources that enable them become empowered. I believe in the feeling that when the government partners with other non-governmental organizations, the dream of community development can be easily realized. Working with the community Working with the community is one of the most interesting, fulfilling and rewarding experiences because through working with the community, one meets new people and learns new things all together. However, I leant that to effectively manage a community and reduce instances of conflicts, it is important that an upright and effective decision making approach is adopted. I learnt that the use of participative approach to decision making is the most appropriate in a community setup because of the many players involved. According to Bray (2015), failure in decision making is registered when community leaders adopt a dictatorial kind of decision making approach rather than participative approach to decision making. I learnt that when it comes to making decisions regarding community problems, it is important to bring on board members of the community to allow them participate unlike making personal decisions and forcing them on the community member, a technique which is supported by dictatorial kind of decision making approach. However, I learnt that in as much as participative kind of decision making approach is encouraged in a community, the approach has its own limitations. Apart from difficulties in making unified decisions based on consensus, the other limitation of participative approach to decision making is that it is time consuming. Devising the best approach to working with the community helps in providing the much needed solutions to community problems through streamlining community structures, networks and policies. A participative kind of decision making approach entails incorporating community members’ views in decision making (Van der Plaat, 2005). The most important thing about the use of this approach in making decisions regarding community matters is that the approach is wholly inclusive and involving thereby cultivating and nurturing a feeling of belonging among community members. I learnt that identification of the best approach of working with the community brings about togetherness. Infact, McKee (2012) affirms that by working together in a community, benefits are gained. Additionally, Rogers & Gravelle (2011) note that working together as a community brings about strong partnerships. Martinez-Cosio & Bussell (2012) are of the opinion that it is through the development of good structures in a community that partnerships are encouraged between the government, the community and non-governmental organizations. Through the course, I developed a feeling and desire to bring about change in the community, a change that will bring new approaches to finding solutions to community problems. The course impacted on me positively by enabling me understand that leading an organization is different from leading a community. An Infact Tate (2009) note that approaches to community leadership are different from those of employed in corporate governance. The course has contributed a great deal to my understanding of what entails community leadership and has equipped me with techniques of how to approach community problems as a leader. I leant that a community is not an exemption to conflicts. Infact, there are a lot of conflicts in a community that should be dealt with on a daily basis by community leaders. However, it takes real community leaders to take up to the task to amicably find solutions to community problems through the use of effective problem solving techniques. Conclusion The course has enabled me have a concrete and clear understanding of what the community is and what pertains community work. I have learnt three most important things. Firstly, I have leant that development of efficient structures that foster togetherness is important and contributes to community development in the long run. It is therefore important that community leaders be in the fore front in establishing and nurturing effective community networks and structures where members of the community are allowed to participate in decision making. It is important for leaders to let community members understand that it is through working together as community members that community objectives are achieved Secondly, I learnt that since there are various approaches to community, it is important that leaders device the best approach to their communities inorder to enhance community development. The best approach to community is the one that entails community participation. It is through community participation that community developments are realized. Community participation entails members of the community actively taking part in community work and motivating each other to work together towards the accomplishment of community projects. Additionally, I learnt that it is important for community leaders to create an avenue that encourages togetherness and unity among stakeholders such as the government, partners, non-governmental organizations and the community at large. Thirdly, I learnt that community leadership is very important in a move towards attaining community development. The reason why community leadership is important is because in a community setup, there are different players with variations in opinions. It therefore takes a sober and upright leader to listen to all opinions and try as much as possible to factor in varied opinions in decision making. I leant that having conflict resolution techniques is paramount in community leadership. Bibliography Bay, U. (2012). Understanding community: Politics, policy and practice. Community Development Journal, 47(3), 448–450. Oxford University Press (OUP). Bray, R. (2015). Developing a participative multi criteria decision making technique: A case study. International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 14(1), 66. Inderscience Publishers. Brogden, M., Nijhar, P., Ellison, G., & Roberts, J. (2005). Community policing: National and international models and approaches. Portland, or: Willan Publishing. Fraser, H. (2005). Four different approaches to community participation. Community Development Journal, 40(3), 286–300. Oxford University Press (OUP). Gutierrez-Montes, I., Emery, M., & Fernandez-Baca, E. (2009). The sustainable Livelihoods approach and the community capitals framework: The importance of system-level approaches to community change efforts. Community Development, 40(2), 106–113. Informa UK. Martinez-Cosio, M., & Bussell, M. R. (2012). Private foundations and community development: Differing approaches to community empowerment. Community Development, 43(4), 416–429. Informa UK. McKee, K. (2012). Understanding community. Housing Studies, 27(5), 720–721. Informa UK. Mitrzyk, B. M. (2008). Understanding global health. Family & Community Health, 31(4), 335. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). Rogers, C., & Gravelle, J. (2011). Partnership working in the “big society.” Safer Communities, 10(2), 26–31. Emerald. Tate, W. (2009). The search for leadership: An organizational perspective. United Kingdom: Triarchy Press. Van der Plaat, M. (2005). Building community capacity in governance and decision making. Community Development Journal, 41(1), 25–36. Oxford University Press (OUP). Read More