Product Description
Organizations today - whether public or private - exist in environments where the pace of change is dizzying. Human service organizations face both external and internal challenges. The public demands better services at more reasonable costs. Clientele are more diverse, stratified, and vocal today. The organizations themselves must keep up with rapid changes in technological innovation and labor-management relationships.
Organizational Change in the Human Services looks at the context of organizational change, describes how individuals and systems change, and pinpoints keys to successful change. Author Rebecca Proehl then presents a proven model of organizational change, built on lessons learned from both the public and private sectors, but tailored for human service organizations. Proehl also discusses in-depth labor union-management issues, the political strategies leaders must use to implement change, and how to build collaborative relationships in human services. Full of examples of successful change projects within human services, the book emphasizes understanding the skills and tools needed for successfully leading and implementing change. Included as a special feature are case studies, organizational assessments and inventories, and exercises that can help readers to adapt the change model to their own organizations.
Practicing managers in the human services will find this book a necessary guide to leading and implementing change in their organization. It will also make a useful text for advanced courses in human services administration and management.
Features/Benefits:
- Management Model: The book features an eight-step change management model, providing practitioners with a convenient, proven guide to the difficult task of leading and implementing change in their own organization.
- Case examples: The book is amply illustrated with many examples of human service organizations that successfully handled change.
- Interactive features: Book also includes assessment forms and inventories, case studies, and other exercises to help the reader understand and manage change in their organization.
Average Customer Review:
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
GREAT presentation of material, 2002-01-13
I cannot count the number of organizational change textbooks I have read in my life. No, I am not having a senior moment; it is just that none of my readings have been inspiring. Thus, none of them are memorable. Proehl's book ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IN THE HUMAN SERVICES does not fit the standard mold. Proehl's writing is inspiring - almost to the point of being exciting. I believe she will be able to induce students to think more seriously about pursuing management and policy as an area of practice. Those students who do not pursue the macro path will have a greater appreciation for agency policy and management. In addition, clinical graduates who read Proehl's work will be able to effectively integrate macro concepts into their clinical repertoire.
I am particularly impressed with her examples, use of measurement to address change, strategies for implementing change and most importantly - her writing. I highly recommend this book.