Week 5:Planning for Change, Planning for change may initially seem like a contradictory phrase—if change is a part of the unknown, how can social work administrators plan for it? Even if administrators do not have a crystal ball to see the future, they can take proactive steps to help prepare their organizations to respond to changes that occur inside and outside the organization. In addition, social work administrators must develop a strategic plan that communicates the organization’s long-term vision. Community stakeholders are essential in strategic planning because they can assist with developing this vision. These stakeholders can also work in partnership with the organization to implement the strategic plan to achieve the selected goals and milestones.

Students will:

• Evaluate strategies for addressing organizational change
• Analyze how organizations can achieve stakeholder support
• Apply strategic planning process to human services organizations

Week 5:Planning for Change

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Lauffer, A. (2011). Understanding your social agency (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

• Chapter 10, “Agency Structure and Change” (pp. 324–352)

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

• Chapter 7, “Creating a Vision” (pp. 161-208)
• Chapter 8, “Establishing a Constructive Climate” (pp. 182-208)
•  Chapter 10, “Listening to Out-Group Members” (pp. 252-275)

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing [Vital Source e-reader].

• “Social Work Supervision, Leadership, and Administration: The Southeast Planning Group” (pp. 85–86)

Optional Resources

Walden University. (2014). Master of Social Work home page. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Visit the Master of Social Work interactive home page to explore resources available to students in the program.

Week 5:Planning for Change

Discussion: Addressing Change

What does a leader do when things do not go as planned? How can a leader help to restore or improve an organization’s operations when a situation stalls or interferes with its functions? Although taking a proactive approach to planning is desired, change may occur suddenly and unexpectedly causing immediate consequences. A skilled leader must be able to assess a situation in order to prioritize the steps necessary to stabilize the organization. This process must focus on a short-term strategy to address immediate concerns and include strategic decisions that will affect the long-term sustainability of the organization.

For this Discussion, you address the Southeast Planning Group (SPG) case study in the Social Work Case Studies: Concentration Year text.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of the change that took place in the SPG. Furthermore, suggest one strategy that might improve the organizational climate and return the organization to optimal functioning. Provide support for your suggested strategy, explaining why it would be effective.

Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

By Day 5

Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.

Respond to at least two colleagues by critiquing their short-term strategies for addressing the SPG case study.

Return to this Discussion to read the responses to your initial post. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 5 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 5 Discussion

Week 5:Planning for Change

Assignment: Leadership and Strategic Planning

In this assignment, you consider how leaders can engage in a strategic planning process with stakeholders to develop a plan to guide the organization’s evolution and development for the long-term. Since strategic planning should engage persons who will be affected by an organization’s decisions (e.g., staff, administration, board members, members of the community), it is important to include key stakeholders in the planning process so that it reflects their perspectives and interests.

For this Assignment, think about how you would begin the strategic planning process for a human services organization. Consider the human services organizations for which you have worked either in your fieldwork or as an employee. Based on what you know about a particular organization, what steps might you take to establish a plan for the organization’s long-term development?

Assignment (2–4 pages in APA format): Describe the first three steps you would take to begin the strategic planning process for a human services organization. Be sure to include the key stakeholders—who should be involved in each step and why they need to be included in the process. In addition, include steps you would take to establish stakeholder support and confidence.

Note: Although you will base your strategic plan on what you know about an actual organization, do not include any identifying information about the organization or its stakeholders.

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK5Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 5 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 5 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK5Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Week 5:Planning for Change

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 5 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 5 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:

Week 5 Assignment

Week 5:Planning for Change

Week in Review

This week you evaluated strategies for addressing organizational change and analyzed how organizations can achieve stakeholder support. You also applied strategic planning processes to human services organizations.

Next week you will focus on the code of ethics that guides social workers on how to engage in professional behavior that is ethical.

Week 5:Planning for Change

Looking Ahead

As you work through the course, keep your Final Project in mind. For full details, refer to Week 10.

To go to the next week:

Week 6