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Do management tasks differ by field of practice?
G T Raymond1, R J Teare, C R Atherton
1School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487, USA.
Administration in Social Work
|December 9, 1995
Summary
Management tasks for social work professionals with Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees appear consistent across different practice fields. This finding questions the current specialization structure in MSW education programs.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Management Studies
- Higher Education
Background:
- Master of Social Work (MSW) programs often specialize by field of practice.
- This specialization applies to both micro- and macro-practice students.
- Assumptions about distinct management roles based on practice field are common.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether management tasks vary based on the field of practice for social work professionals.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of specialized curricula in Master of Social Work programs.
- To challenge existing assumptions in social work education regarding practice specialization.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of task data from social work managers and supervisors.
- Comparison of performed tasks across different fields of practice.
- Statistical evaluation of task data for individuals with MSW degrees.
Main Results:
- Managers and supervisors with MSW degrees perform similar tasks irrespective of their field of practice.
- No significant differences in management tasks were identified based on specialization.
- Task data did not support the notion of distinct management roles across practice areas.
Conclusions:
- The study's findings suggest that current organizational principles in MSW curricula may need re-evaluation.
- There is a need to examine the underlying assumptions regarding field-of-practice specialization.
- Curriculum development in social work may benefit from a more unified approach to management training.