Hsm Week 2

Summarize, in 200 to 300 words, the four external environmental factors and six internal environmental factors that help organizations achieve optimal function.

Include in your response the factors that you feel are most important to the success of a human service organization.

The four external environmental factors that help organizations achieve optimal function are economic factors, sociological factors, political and professional factors, and technological factors. Economic factors play an important role to an organizations funding. Economic factors also include competitors. For example, other organizations that may be providing the same services to clients and consumers would be competitors. Sociological factors focuses on community demographics and the people with whom the organization serves. Sociological factors such as demographic factors help an organization achieve optimal function because demographics allow the organization to meet the diverse needs of the people they serve. Political and professional factors consist of an organization abiding by required laws and regulations. Professional factors involve a type of regulation known as accreditation and consideration of working relationships with other professional organizations in the community. Last, technological factors allow the organization to stay updated with new technology that helps improve the success of the organization.

The six internal environmental factors that help organizations achieve optimal function are organizational purpose, mission, and philosophy, organizational planning, organizational operations, human resources, technological resources, and financial resources. Organizational purpose, mission, and philosophy work together in all aspects of the organization achieve optimal function. Organizational planning involves strategic, long-range, and program planning that is combined to work together. Human resources functions allow the organization to ensure all internal