THEORETICAL CONCEPTS OF

SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION
 ADMINISTRATION (Herman Stein)
A process of defining and attaining
the objectives of the organization
through a system of coordinated and
cooperative effort

The process or activity of running a

business or organization
 ADMINISTRATION- as a method of practice revolves primarily on the
following activities.
1. determination of goals and or setting of objectives;
2. formulation of policies;
3. maintenance of an organization;
4. formulation of plans;
5. securing of resources;
6. selection of technologies necessary for operations;
7. design of programs and services;
8. optimization of organizational behavior;
9. evaluation of results for the improvement of services; &
10. accounting for resource utilization.
 SOCIAL WORK ADMINISTRATION – John C.
Kidneigh 1950

The process of transforming social

policy into social services…..a two way
process
1. transforming policy into concrete
social services
2. the use of experience in
recommending modification of policy.
 SOCIAL WORK ADMINISTRATION ( sw
dictionary)
- methods used by those who have
administrative responsibility to determine
organizational goals for a social agency or
other unit;
- acquire resources and allocate them to
carry out a program;
- coordinate activities towards achieving
selected goals;
- and monitor, assess and make necessary
changes in processes and structure to
improve effectiveness and efficiency.
HARLEIGH TRECKER:
- as a process of working with
people in ways that release and
relate their energies so that they use
all available resources to accomplish
the purpose of providing needed
community services and programs
 THE MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL WORK
ADMINISTRATION
1. administration is a continuous dynamic
process
2. process set into motion in order to
accomplish a common purpose or goal
3. resources of people and materials are
harnessed to achieve the common goal
4. the above is achieved through coordination
and cooperation
5. Implicit in these definition are the elements
of planning, organizing and leadership
SKIDMORE (1950) – Social Welfare
Administration as the action of staff
members who utilize social processes to
transform social policies of agencies into
the delivery of social services.

ELEMENTS OF ADMINISTRATION
Organization and Management are the
two primary elements of administration.
ORGANIZATION – is the setting up of the framework or
structure of the different units of the system to carry out or
perform distinct tasks for the attainment of the goals of
administration.
An organization comes into being when:
a. there are persons able to communicate with each other,
b. who are willing to contribute action, and
c. to accomplish a common purpose.

MANAGEMENT – is the activity that allocates and utilizes

resources to achieve the goals of the organization. It is the
scientific utilization of manpower, money, machines,
materials, methods, time, space and other resources for the
attainment of organizational goals.
Social Administration, Social Welfare Administration and Social
Work Administration – are found in the social work literature
as they apply to human service organizations.

Social Administration – focuses on the policies, planning and

administration of goods and services in relation to political,
social and economic institutions and to the determinants of
the distribution of national resources to social welfare needs.

Social Welfare Administration – refers more specifically to the

administrative processes in social welfare agency, the
formulation of its policies and plans, and their implementation
into programs and services for specific client groups.
Social Work Administration – is a method of social work
concerned with the provision and distribution of societal
resources so as to enable people to meet their needs and fulfill
their potentials toward empowering their lives.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL WORK ADMINISTRATION

1. the use of the principles and techniques of administration in
general;
2. the use of philosophy, aims and functions of social work;
3. working with people based on knowledge and
understanding of human behavior, relations and organizations.
4. methods encompassing not only in the services provided by
the agency but also the administrative process and staff relations.
5. ethics playing a significant role