Task Groups & Teams Applying Organizational Theory SOWK 4007 Community/ Macro Theory & Practice Winter 2016 Session 7

Course Objectives #2 Demonstrate knowledge of organizational change models and the applicability of those models to social work practice and the person and environment and generalist practice perspective #3 Identify the mechanisms of social group work required for macro practice including work in task groups, meetings and teams

Agenda for Session 7 Second part of class First part of class Framework for understanding organizations Organizations: definitions and functions First part of class DISC Profile overview Group time: DISC Activity

Organizational Culture and Processes: Leadership, Climate, Communication, Conflict

Organizations are Systems Input ----- Throughput ----- Output

Definition: Culture A set of norms, values, assumptions that are part of organizational life “The way we do things around here”

Shared beliefs, values and assumptions Norms Rituals, stories, symbols Language “ a property of the collective organizational system” Think of a metaphor for your agency

Cultural Context Organizations, like other social institutions are shaped by the greater culture Culture develops through social interaction We can shape culture

Style and Culture Leadership sets the stage for culture Blake and Mouton described four organizational cultures based on management style The Managerial Grid

Paternalistic Culture High Performance Culture Performance Management Organizational Culture as Leadership style Strong Emphasis Paternalistic Culture High Performance Culture People Management Laissez Faire Culture Autocratic Culture Weak Emphasis Strong Emphasis Weak Emphasis Performance Management

Concern for People and Concern for Production Paternalistic -Country Club Management Comfortable, friendly environment that has a high concern for people and low concern for production Autocratic: Authority-Obedience Efficiency rules; keep people interference to a minimum; low concern for people and high concern for task

Laissez Faire: Impoverished Management Exertion of minimal effort; low concern for people or productivity High Performance: Team Management Work is accomplished through commitment of staff; common tasks – high concern for people and task

Organizational Climate A perception of the work environment Influenced by organizational culture Psychological climate: how an employee’s well being is affected by the environment

Organizational Processes How people in organizations interact within the boundaries of the organization and community Communication Decision Making Conflict

Communication Basic Communication Process

Types

Organizational Conflict All organizations have conflict

Conflict Styles of Dealing with Conflict

Being a Change Agent Understanding organizations and communities as an important context for change Lead through relationship and knowledge