The Tri-Sector Environment of Social Work Administration: Applying Theoretical Orientations

Innovations in Governance: Application to Social Work

“…From this view, government operates as a center-out structure (Bollier, 2006), with a focus on dependence upon hierarchical governmental agencies to resolve public concerns (Cohen & Eimicke, 1998;Salamon, 2002). Watson and Hegar (2013) describe the government from this viewpoint as a "monolithic, bloated bureaucracy in need of an injection of the types of business practices and market solutions preferred by the for-profit sector" (p. 216). While this view is certainly extreme, it does highlight several problems inherent in the current use of the government paradigm that arise in today's global arena advanced by current technologies and transition from society operating from a push perspective to one of a pull economic approach (Bollier, 2006).…”

“…It has been well articulated in the literature that, under the government paradigm, the focus and emphasis are placed on policies as the unit of analysis (Salamon, 2002;Watson & Hegar, 2013). Success or failure of these policies, programs, and regulations is measured through outputs or delivery of public goods or services (outputs) to society at large (Cohen & Eimicke, 1998;Salamon, 2002).…”

“…There is also between these paradigms a difference in the process for change. While in the government paradigm, as discussed, the government creates regulations and policies in a general way from the top down, the focus now is on how to utilize these policies created through a collaborative process and apply them to community-specific public problems (Noblin, 2011;Watson & Hegar, 2013). Consequently, the focus of this new system is no longer on outputs but on the tools of governance used and the outcomes resulting from the collaboration among the public and private sector rather than the contrast and distinction between the two.…”

“…The shift, or revolution, as termed by Salamon (2002), is from a government paradigm to one of governance. For almost 20 years, evidence has abounded for not only a shift occurring (Frahm & Martin, 2009;Scott & Davis, 2007;Watson & Hegar, 2013) but a need for a new model of governance with a unique perspective for the evaluation of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of government (Trubek, Rees, Houflund, Farquharc, & Heimer, 2008). No longer is the unit of analysis in policy research that of the individual program; the focus is now on the tools or instruments that structure the process of policy change (Kamark, 2002).…”

“…Specifically within the field of social work, it is critical to consider the existing ideological and political frameworks in which we operate (Rubin & Babbie, 2001;Watson & Hegar, 2013). As such, it is not only beneficial for social work clinicians, researchers, and administrators to understand this paradigm shift, but to incorporate knowledge of this shift into our field and practice.…”