Organisational Context of Human Service Practice

This book provides an up-to-date analysis of contemporary challenges in the environment of human services in Australia. It reviews current theorising about organisations exploring new areas of theory development and their application to human services. Several new areas are explored relating to technology development in the human services; the emergence of new hybrid organisational forms; the notion of human service work as both knowledge work and 'emotional labour'; the issue of organisational ethics; exploration of the concept of the learning organisation; and new methods for evaluating the organisational performance and social impact of human service organisations. Key features: this book provides an updated and contemporary analysis of the challenges currently being confronted by workers in human services in Australia; the book draws on contemporary theory and research as well as providing practical knowledge and strategies.