Organisational and community theories, patterns and change and their application within community and social services in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Students will develop a social work leadership framework, and use knowledge on communities and organisations to design an initiative to address a social issue.
| Paper title | Communities and Organisations - Analysis and Theory |
|---|---|
| Paper code | SOWK303 |
| Subject | Social Work |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1
(Distance learning)
Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $955.05 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- SOWK 553, SOWX 303
- Limited to
- BSW
- Notes
- (i) May not be taken by students who have passed both (SOWK 234 or SOWX 234) and (SOWK 235 or SOWX 235). (ii) Non-BSW students may be admitted to this paper with approval from the Head of the Social and Community Work Programme.
- Eligibility
- This paper is designed for students who have been admitted into the Bachelor of Social Work programme.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Social and Community Work programme website
- Teaching staff
Coordinator and Lecturer: Dr Marissa Kaloga
- Paper Structure
The paper is divided into two sections:
- Choose your Player - In this 3 week section students will explore leadership theory and diverse leadership approaches, then apply them to social work practice when they design their own leaership framework.
- Create
your World - The remaining 10 weeks are organised into a gamified approach where students
complete weekly activities to identify a social issue in a community and create an
organisation to address it. Topics covered include:
- Systems thinking models in social work.
- Community concepts and theory.
- Strengths based approaches.
- Organisational forms and sectors
- Internal and external environments.
- Organisational analysis
- Power and participation.
- Teaching Arrangements
The Distance Learning offering of this paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching.
There is one compulsory workshop for this paper; information about this is provided in the course books. Other teaching arrangements are by lecture and Blackboard participation.
- Textbooks
Students will choose ONE of the following leadership books:
Brown,B. (2018). Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Random House.
Spiller, C., Barclay-Kerr, H., & Panoho, J. (2015). Wayfinding leadership: Ground-breaking wisdom for developing leaders. Huia Publishers.
Greenleaf, R.K. (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist Press.
Edmonstone, J. (2019). Systems leadership in health and social care. Routledge.
OR a leadership book of the student's choice (with lecturer approval).
The other required readings will be provided
- Course outline
- The course outline is included in the course books.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Environmental
literacy, Information literacy.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Upon successfully completing this paper students will be able to:
- Understand the basic dynamics and patterns of organisational and community relationships across cultural boundaries and the forces shaping contemporary patterns.
- Understand and critically evaluate the different major models of organisational and community change and their practical implications for working in the community.
- Identify and assess differing explanations of change in a variety of cultural and geographic settings.
- Analyse and evaluate community-based policy at all levels of decision making.
