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SOWK553 Communities and Organisation - Analysis and Theory

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 intitiatve to address a social issue. 

Paper title Communities and Organisation - Analysis and Theory
Paper code SOWK553
Subject Social Work
EFTS 0.1667
Points 20 points
Teaching period(s) Semester 1 (Distance learning)
Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) $1,655.16
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.

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Restriction
SOWK 303
Limited to
MSCW(Applied), PGDipSW
Contact

socialwork@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Course Co-ordinator: Dr Marissa Kaloga

Paper Structure

The paper is divided into two sections:

  1. Choose your Player - In this three week section students will explore leadership theory and diverse leadership approaches, then apply them to social work practice when they design their own leadership framework.
  2. 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 the 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.

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Timetable

Semester 1

Location
Dunedin
Teaching method
This paper is taught through Distance Learning
Learning management system
Blackboard

Workshop

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Thursday 09:00-15:50 9

Semester 1

Location
Dunedin
Teaching method
This paper is taught On Campus
Learning management system
Blackboard

Lecture

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Tuesday 14:00-15:50 10-14, 16, 18-22

Tutorial

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Wednesday 13:00-13:50 11-14, 16-22

Workshop

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
A1 Thursday 09:00-15:50 9