HSM5303 - Human Services Management: Structure and Context

Leader: TBA

Offered

Gippsland First semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit addresses the socio-cultural, political and physical contexts in which human service organisations are located. Students engage with, and critically reflect on the ideas and processes through which social, economic, political and juridical forces structure, define and legitimise the human services industry and human service organisations. Using case study and problem-based learning approaches, students examine the role, function, formation and resourcing of the human service organisation in rural, urban, regional and global contexts. Emphasis is placed on the requirement for human service organisations to exercise responsibility and accountability to the communities they serve.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Conduct an environmental analysis of a human service organisation;
2. Identify and discuss the various roles, functions and responsibilities of the human service organisation in rural, regional, urban and global contexts;
3. Critically discuss the emergence of new forms of organisational structure in the human services sector;
4. Apply relevant theory to analysis of the socio-cultural, political and economic contexts in which human service organisations operate;
5. Identify and critically review appropriate funding options and sources and prepare a funding submission;
6. Conduct a literature review; identify and critically discuss social, political and economic theories that have influenced the contemporary formation of the human services industry;
7. Critically discuss and defend a theoretically informed position that proposes a solution to the increasing marketisation of the human services industry

Assessment

Assignment 1: Organisational environment analysis (5000 words): 60%
Assignment 2: Funding submission (4000 words): 40%

Off Campus Attendance Requirements

Students will be expected to participate for a minimum of one hour per fortnight in on-line discussion.

Prohibitions

HSM4303