Human service organizations are significant in ensuring that individual and collective needs of human beings are met. In order to accomplish the afore-mentioned goal, organizations dealing with human services need proper management (Lauffer, 2011). Examples of human service organizations include AARP, Red Cross, and The Corps Network among others. In order to ensure proper management, and have an understanding of the relationships between human services organizations and their environments, administrators in human service organizations can apply the systems theory (Schirmer, & Michailakis, 2019). Revealingly, the theory operates on the principle that, everything in a given organization is interconnected and interdependent. In that sense, administrators can utilize the system theory in their management duties considering they deal with a wide range of settings and all kinds of different people.
In their daily management duties, administrators within human service organizations meet a wide range of clients. In that sense, the application of system theory is helpful in order to respond to a diverse client population. In relation to management issues, the theory helps the administrators to understand the separate parts of an issue, and determine the most appropriate way of solving it (Schirmer, & Michailakis, 2019). For instance, in a case where the child has been isolated or abandoned, the best approach would be interacting with members of that family to understand the issue fully. By so doing, the members will be comfortable to speak freely and the problem will be solved amicably (Lauffer, 2011). In fact, system theory enable administrators to make decisions based on sound analysis and understanding of each situation as presented.
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In the case of administrators, their cardinal duty is in leading an organization such as Red Cross in achieving its set goals. In that regard, the system theory becomes a significant tool in enabling them to monitor and respond to the environment effectively (Schirmer, & Michailakis, 2019). It prepares their mind that; all factors operating outside the organization have the ability of affecting the company. Factually, appropriate leadership within human service organizations depends entirely on the interpersonal skills (Pyne, 2014). The administrator is supposed to demonstrate the ability to distinguish broad issues and issue a strategic planning and leadership towards the issue at hand. He should communicate, facilitate, resolve conflicts, and empower members in the organization towards the shared vision (Lauffer, 2011). For instance, an administrator working for Voices for America’s Children is expected to share the vision of improving lives of vulnerable children with the people working under him. He should be able to relate with issues happening outside the company, and their effects on the organization’s cardinal goal.
Roles of leadership and management in human service organizations contribute to the overall functioning of the organizations. In their line of duty, administrators work closely with families facing a wide range of issues. In such settings, they are expected to make critical decisions (Lauffer, 2011). To make such decisions, the administrators are supposed to rely on their experiences, and their knowledge on family functioning, parenting capacity, and child development (Forte, 2014). Following their regular leadership roles, the overall functioning of the organizations improve and as such, they can be reliable in establishing frameworks for improving social work practice (Lauffer, 2011). Notably, community work is significant and is informed by thinking within the social systems. System theory has enabled administrators to establish programs and interventions capable of solving the needs of the immediate communities the organization is serving.
In overall, the systems theory is a unique and helpful approach that administrators in human service organizations can employ to piece together issues happening inside and outside their work areas. The effort demonstrated by the administrators has been helpful to the organizations in establishing frameworks significant in improving social work practice.
References
Forte, J. A. (2014). An Introduction to Using Theory in Social Work Practice. New York, NY: Routledge
Lauffer, A. (2011). Understanding your social agency (3rd Ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.
Pyne, M. (2014). Modern Social Work Theory. Washington, DC: Oxford University Press
Schirmer, W. & Michailakis, D. (2019). Systems Theory for Social Work and the Helping Professions. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis
