Hostile Task Environment In A Human Service Organization
Pg. 1
CHAPTER TWO
THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN SERVICES MANAGEMENT
• Most management activities are designed to positively influence what takes place within an organization.
• It is important to note that the external environment plays an important role in a human service organization.
• Since the success of management activities are determined by the interaction that occurs between the organization and those persons and forces that exist outside its boundaries.
• In this chapter, we will examine the external influences that must be addressed by human service organizations, and how different they are from manufacturing sector which produces products rather than services.
THE TASK ENVIRONMENT …show more content…
William Dill describes “Task Environment” as the parts of an organization’s environment that are “relevant or potentially relevant to goal setting and goal attainment.”
Pg. 2
• An organization is believed to be more or less successful in its goal achievement based on its capacity to interact successfully with its task environment.
• Therefore, many activities set up by managers involve efforts to negotiate support from the task environment. It is important for any service provider to make sure that his/her supporters are on his/her side. You cannot have your supporter turning against you.
• In manufacturing corporation, the components of the task environment are its:
1. customers
2. suppliers of raw materials and resources needed to manufacture the organization’s products
3. its competitors
4. regulatory groups that might restrict its ability to operate in the most profitable manner
Pg. 3
• In a human service organization there are many similarities and differences from the task environment of a manufacturing organization. It consists of:
1. Any persons
2. Organizations
3. Groups on whom it dependent for goal achievement
4. Those who have the potential to support or interfere with its efforts.
Examples:
• Stakeholders such as its past present and future clients
• Other human service organization with which it must interact
• Funding organization
• Government programs
• Private and professional companies
• The media and the general public
• Pg. 4
In a manufacturing organization, if its products are good, at the right priced, it’s not dangerous to anyone’s health and would not cause any social problems then there is a sweet relationship between the organization and its task environment.
In a human service organization the general public sometimes gets involved as potential customers (clients).
Some people come voluntarily and appreciate the help they get.
Others may come involuntarily (may be sent by court-ordered). These may resent the organization and its staff.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TASK ENVIRONMENTS
Human service organizations based primarily on their missions and objectives operates in a task environment where some of its components are likely to be friendly, other less friendly.
The primary threat within the task environment of a manufacturing corporation is often its competitors (everyone wants a share of the market. In the super
• Pg. 5
market so many same products by different manufacturers).
Stockholders, government regulatory commissions, or the media can also be a treat to the organization achieving its goal.
How friendly is the task environment of a human service agency? It depends. Some human service organizations are lucky to work in a task environment that is relatively friendly.
What are their characteristics? More favorable task environments are found in those organizations where:
1. Their services cost the taxpayer little or nothing
2. Their services are seen as desirable, that is, consistent with the society’s predominant values;
3: They offer services that most people can envision that they (or someone they care about) is likely to use some day Pg. 6
4: There is general consensus within the task environment that their approach to the problem they are addressing is the correct one.
• A private adoption agency would be a good example of a human service organization with a favorable task environment (why) costs are borne by those seeking the service.
• Placing an unwanted child in a home where he/she is wanted is viewed by the general public and other components of the task environment as a noble enterprise.
• Another example would be an organization that offers in-home hospice service to terminally ill patients and their families. It would meet all four of the previously mentioned criteria.
• In those human service organizations fortunate enough to operate in a relatively friendly and supportive task environment, managers can focus on doing what is necessary to facilitate the flow of work and services.
Pg. 7
• Threats and attacks form the task environment are infrequent.
• Among other differences, the manager in the organization with the friendly task environment generally does not need to spend large portions of the day establishing and enforcing, the trappings of bureaucracies (Is one of the classical theories or organization. Described by Max Weber as “the efficient organization in its pure form. More in Chapter Three).
• What would be the characteristics of a human services organization with a more hostile task environment, the one more frequently seen and experienced by social workers? (examples) Prison and prisoner’s community)
• Child –protection services also often experience their share of hostility from the task environment. No one publicly advocates child abuse or neglect and most people believe that the public sector has a right to intervene when it is believed to have occurred.
• So, why do child-protection organizations not have the benefit of a friendly
task
• Pg. 8
environment? Their employees are involved in investigating and exposing a problem that the general public prefers to believe “does not happen here.” They embarrass politicians, clergy, and educators who may take pride in the well-being of citizens within “their” community.
IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TASK ENVIRONMENT
• A hostile task environment promotes a sense of uncertainty within an organization and too much is stressful and debilitating. No can work well when they know that those around them are just watching and waiting for a mistake or a sign of weakness to occur.
• If a human service organization does not have a task environment that is friendly, then a social worker’s management tasks must be devoted in part to negotiating with the hostile environment in order to improve relationships.
Pg. 9
• The goal is to do this at the least possible cost in terms of compromise of professional values, loss of autonomy, and service effectiveness.
• Several methods for accomplishing this are:
1. Acquiring Prestige: The organization that can become recognized for its first-class products or services has an easier time dealing with its task environment.
Develop a reputation as being the best and hostility from the task environment diminishes.
A well-managed, efficient organization that does a good job of demonstrating
that it is financially accountable for the funding that it receives, will face less hostility from its task
Pg. 10
environment than will one that has a reputation for slack management.
2. Contracting: is designed to make interaction with the task environment more predictable and therefore, potentially less threatening. It is most often used to increase the power over those components of the task environment that provide the customers (clients) or personnel need for the organization to function.
Example: Employee Assistance Program(EAP) Organization agree to provide services such as substance abuse treatment and marriage counseling to employees of a corporation or other organization for an agreed-upon amount. (Pg. 27)
3. Co-opting: Reducing opposition by bringing a person/organization/task
Pg. 11
environment “into” the organization.
Example: Placing a political opponent or otherwise outspoken critic within the community on an advisory board or even its board of directors.
OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE CONTROL OVER THE TASK ENVIRONMENT (LOOKING FOR A FRIENDLIER ONE)
• Expanding alternatives: In human service organizations it would mean development of different client referral sources and networks, and development of working relationships with universities to create sources for new staff.
• Diversification: If you are a manufacturer, means manufacturing a variety of products so that if, for example, demand for one product drops, demand for another can balance it off and/or the corporation can shift its resources into the manufacturer of the more profitable product.
• In human service organizations, we might similarly create more certainty and leave ourselves less vulnerable to a reduced need for services if were to offer a variety of programmes. It is hoped that some of these would generate wide public acceptance and would also “carry” the organization if support for other services erodes or they must be discontinued.
Activity
Please read material provided by your instructor and participate in the activity.
Take 20 minutes to read and understanding information given. Formulate a name for your human service organization and put together a skit to present your information. Please remember that you must interact with your task environment in your demonstration. Each group has 10 minutes to present.
Reference
Weinbach, Robert W. (2008). The Social Worker as Manager: A Practical Guide to Success (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
CHAPTER TWO
THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN SERVICES MANAGEMENT
• Most management activities are designed to positively influence what takes place within an organization.
• It is important to note that the external environment plays an important role in a human service organization.
• Since the success of management activities are determined by the interaction that occurs between the organization and those persons and forces that exist outside its boundaries.
• In this chapter, we will examine the external influences that must be addressed by human service organizations, and how different they are from manufacturing sector which produces products rather than services.
THE TASK ENVIRONMENT …show more content…
William Dill describes “Task Environment” as the parts of an organization’s environment that are “relevant or potentially relevant to goal setting and goal attainment.”
Pg. 2
• An organization is believed to be more or less successful in its goal achievement based on its capacity to interact successfully with its task environment.
• Therefore, many activities set up by managers involve efforts to negotiate support from the task environment. It is important for any service provider to make sure that his/her supporters are on his/her side. You cannot have your supporter turning against you.
• In manufacturing corporation, the components of the task environment are its:
1. customers
2. suppliers of raw materials and resources needed to manufacture the organization’s products
3. its competitors
4. regulatory groups that might restrict its ability to operate in the most profitable manner
Pg. 3
• In a human service organization there are many similarities and differences from the task environment of a manufacturing organization. It consists of:
1. Any persons
2. Organizations
3. Groups on whom it dependent for goal achievement
4. Those who have the potential to support or interfere with its efforts.
Examples:
• Stakeholders such as its past present and future clients
• Other human service organization with which it must interact
• Funding organization
• Government programs
• Private and professional companies
• The media and the general public
• Pg. 4
In a manufacturing organization, if its products are good, at the right priced, it’s not dangerous to anyone’s health and would not cause any social problems then there is a sweet relationship between the organization and its task environment.
In a human service organization the general public sometimes gets involved as potential customers (clients).
Some people come voluntarily and appreciate the help they get.
Others may come involuntarily (may be sent by court-ordered). These may resent the organization and its staff.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TASK ENVIRONMENTS
Human service organizations based primarily on their missions and objectives operates in a task environment where some of its components are likely to be friendly, other less friendly.
The primary threat within the task environment of a manufacturing corporation is often its competitors (everyone wants a share of the market. In the super
• Pg. 5
market so many same products by different manufacturers).
Stockholders, government regulatory commissions, or the media can also be a treat to the organization achieving its goal.
How friendly is the task environment of a human service agency? It depends. Some human service organizations are lucky to work in a task environment that is relatively friendly.
What are their characteristics? More favorable task environments are found in those organizations where:
1. Their services cost the taxpayer little or nothing
2. Their services are seen as desirable, that is, consistent with the society’s predominant values;
3: They offer services that most people can envision that they (or someone they care about) is likely to use some day Pg. 6
4: There is general consensus within the task environment that their approach to the problem they are addressing is the correct one.
• A private adoption agency would be a good example of a human service organization with a favorable task environment (why) costs are borne by those seeking the service.
• Placing an unwanted child in a home where he/she is wanted is viewed by the general public and other components of the task environment as a noble enterprise.
• Another example would be an organization that offers in-home hospice service to terminally ill patients and their families. It would meet all four of the previously mentioned criteria.
• In those human service organizations fortunate enough to operate in a relatively friendly and supportive task environment, managers can focus on doing what is necessary to facilitate the flow of work and services.
Pg. 7
• Threats and attacks form the task environment are infrequent.
• Among other differences, the manager in the organization with the friendly task environment generally does not need to spend large portions of the day establishing and enforcing, the trappings of bureaucracies (Is one of the classical theories or organization. Described by Max Weber as “the efficient organization in its pure form. More in Chapter Three).
• What would be the characteristics of a human services organization with a more hostile task environment, the one more frequently seen and experienced by social workers? (examples) Prison and prisoner’s community)
• Child –protection services also often experience their share of hostility from the task environment. No one publicly advocates child abuse or neglect and most people believe that the public sector has a right to intervene when it is believed to have occurred.
• So, why do child-protection organizations not have the benefit of a friendly
task
• Pg. 8
environment? Their employees are involved in investigating and exposing a problem that the general public prefers to believe “does not happen here.” They embarrass politicians, clergy, and educators who may take pride in the well-being of citizens within “their” community.
IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TASK ENVIRONMENT
• A hostile task environment promotes a sense of uncertainty within an organization and too much is stressful and debilitating. No can work well when they know that those around them are just watching and waiting for a mistake or a sign of weakness to occur.
• If a human service organization does not have a task environment that is friendly, then a social worker’s management tasks must be devoted in part to negotiating with the hostile environment in order to improve relationships.
Pg. 9
• The goal is to do this at the least possible cost in terms of compromise of professional values, loss of autonomy, and service effectiveness.
• Several methods for accomplishing this are:
1. Acquiring Prestige: The organization that can become recognized for its first-class products or services has an easier time dealing with its task environment.
Develop a reputation as being the best and hostility from the task environment diminishes.
A well-managed, efficient organization that does a good job of demonstrating
that it is financially accountable for the funding that it receives, will face less hostility from its task
Pg. 10
environment than will one that has a reputation for slack management.
2. Contracting: is designed to make interaction with the task environment more predictable and therefore, potentially less threatening. It is most often used to increase the power over those components of the task environment that provide the customers (clients) or personnel need for the organization to function.
Example: Employee Assistance Program(EAP) Organization agree to provide services such as substance abuse treatment and marriage counseling to employees of a corporation or other organization for an agreed-upon amount. (Pg. 27)
3. Co-opting: Reducing opposition by bringing a person/organization/task
Pg. 11
environment “into” the organization.
Example: Placing a political opponent or otherwise outspoken critic within the community on an advisory board or even its board of directors.
OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE CONTROL OVER THE TASK ENVIRONMENT (LOOKING FOR A FRIENDLIER ONE)
• Expanding alternatives: In human service organizations it would mean development of different client referral sources and networks, and development of working relationships with universities to create sources for new staff.
• Diversification: If you are a manufacturer, means manufacturing a variety of products so that if, for example, demand for one product drops, demand for another can balance it off and/or the corporation can shift its resources into the manufacturer of the more profitable product.
• In human service organizations, we might similarly create more certainty and leave ourselves less vulnerable to a reduced need for services if were to offer a variety of programmes. It is hoped that some of these would generate wide public acceptance and would also “carry” the organization if support for other services erodes or they must be discontinued.
Activity
Please read material provided by your instructor and participate in the activity.
Take 20 minutes to read and understanding information given. Formulate a name for your human service organization and put together a skit to present your information. Please remember that you must interact with your task environment in your demonstration. Each group has 10 minutes to present.
Reference
Weinbach, Robert W. (2008). The Social Worker as Manager: A Practical Guide to Success (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.