Effective Management Practices in Community Service Organizations

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Community service organizations are essential for the strength and liveliness of our communities. Not only do they enrich the quality of life of several citizens, but they also exemplify the highest societal values that should be extended to all citizens. In the current ever-changing environment caused by shrinking resources, increased competition for funding and skilled staff, and demands for accountability, organizations are being forced to look at new and creative ways to influence the work environment so that they can effectively deliver services Trautmann, Maher, & Motley, 2007). In doing so, it is imperative that they utilize sound management practices in order to ensure ongoing success and a continued provision of services. The following is a literature review of current and effective management practices for human service organizations which examines the ways in which organizational processes, leadership, program management, financing, and community involvement can positively impact an organization.

Organizational Processes

Effectively managing a community service organization requires careful planning and management. In doing so, organizations need to provide a clear mission and implement their strategies effectively. The following section reviews the effective methods of governance and organizational planning required in the effective management of community service organizations.

Governance

As stated by Brody (2005), “a well-managed human service organization requires a governing body that actively works with the executive director and management team to provide organizational stewardship” (p. 402). In many community service organizations, it is a board of directors or trustees that is responsible for defini...

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Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. (2005, July). Principles & practices for nonprofit excellence. Retrieved from http://www.mncn.org/info/principles_and_practices.pdf.

Schmid, H. (2006). Leadership styles and leadership change in human and community service organizations. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 17 (2), 179-194.

doi: 10.1002/nml.142.

Trautmann, K., Maher, J., & Motley, D. (2007). Learning strategies as predictors of transformational leadership: The case of nonprofit managers. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 28 (3), 269-287. doi: 10.1108/01437730710739675.

Villinger, N. (2009). Analyzing non-profit organizations: Managerial frameworks and evaluation. The Journal of Global Business Issues 3 (1), 61-65. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

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