This book describes the transformation of leadership and management in
the context of selected newer leadership approaches in social work and
human service organisations. It is an essential primer that focuses on
the extent to which the approaches presented help managers in social
enterprises deal with current challenges in depth and to develop
suitable answers to questions such as: What is leadership? How does this
differ from management? What leadership qualifications do executives
currently need for long-term and future-oriented management?
Leadership and management in social work and human service organisations
are constantly confronted with various challenges: employees want to be
supported individually; managers must be able to act in an
entrepreneurial manner; the organizational culture should be developed
from a holistic point of view. Self-management in self-organised work
contexts is increasingly the focus. In addition, organisations and the
employees working in these institutions must struggle with constant
changes in the environment under volatility, uncertainty, complexity,
and ambiguity (VUCA) conditions.
Based on an overview of classic and newer leadership approaches, this
book introduces readers to selected concepts and theories relevant to
the social economy, which various current textbooks in general business
administration and specifically in social work management do not provide
in a concise way. After introducing an innovative translational
leadership framework, the book places leadership and management theories
and approaches at the centre of the discussion that help to reflect on
the application and adaptation of leadership styles in social work
practice. Additionally, the book discusses changes taking place in the
social and economic environment as well as in attitudes of agile
leaders, in the practice of adaptive and digital leadership.
Social Work Leadership and Management: Current Approaches and Concepts
for Social and Human Service Organisations is specifically geared to
the needs of social work educators, students, researchers and
practitioners in academic and agency (social and human service sectors)
settings who can acquire knowledge and skills to support the viability
and positive functioning of social work organisations, and to engage
with other individuals, groups, and organisations.
