21134 Introduction to Community Management

Faculty of Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject introduces the basic features of nonprofit organisations, and develops a foundation for students to develop skills in effectively organising and managing aspects of a nonprofit organisation. It examines the requirements of establishing an organisation, the principles underlying the voluntary management structure of nonprofit organisations, the range of types of nonprofits, and their relationship to the community.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

Outline the basic principles of community management, and critically analyse the practice of community management.
Locate their own organisation in terms of features of a range of community organisations.
Design effective organisational structures and processes in community organisations.
Understand the variety of relationships between community organisations and communities.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject introduces the basic features of non profit organisations and develops a foundation for students to develop skills in effectively organising aspects of non profit organisation. It provides an introduction to these skills.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will learn through a combination of set readings, lectures, workshop exercises, case studies and written assignments requiring them to apply concepts to their own work environment. Where appropriate, students will also be expected to conduct their own research in order to complete set assessment tasks.

Students will be encouraged to be active rather than passive learners. Each subject will feature 3 Block sessions through the semester, which may include a selection of the following teaching and learning strategies:

full lectures or mini lectures (possibly including guest speakers)
large group discussion
practical group exercises
small group discussion
student presentations (individual or group projects)

Students are also required to maintain a regular reading schedule which may include a textbook, a prescribed set of readings and/or some selected key references.

Central to the teaching and learning philosophy of this subject, is the integration of work based learning through assessment tasks that require students to apply theory to practice and reflect on this process in the context of their own communities and community organisations.

Content

Incorporated not for profit organisations
Different types of community organisations
Basic principles of community management
Boards/committee governance
Organisational structures… formal and informal
Demarcation
Policies and procedures
Decision making

Assessment

Assignment 1 (Individual)	50%
Students are required to answer a set of questions in relation to their own organisation using the literature to inform the analysis. Addresses objectives 1, 2 and 4.
Assignment 2 (Group)	50%
Students are required to describe the management and decision making structures of their organisations using the literature to inform the analysis. Addresses objectives 1, 2 and 3.

To pass the subject, students must achieve at least 50% of the final overall grade.

Recommended text(s)

Funds Development reading guide.

Indicative references

Behrendt, L. (2004) Our Institutions in a Reconciled Australia, Journal of Indigenous Policy – Issue 4. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Brown, C. R. & Mazza, G. J.(2004) Leading Diverse Communities: A How-To Guide for Moving from Healing Into Action, National Coalition Building Institute Jossey-Bass

Crosby, B. C. & Bryson, J. M. (2005) Leadership for the Common Good: Tackling Public Problems in a Shared-Power World, 2nd Edition. Jossey-Bass

Daniel Connors, T. (2002) The Nonprofit Handbook: Management, 2002 Supplement, Third Edition, Wiley

Fishel, David (2003) The Book of the Board, Effective Governance for non-Profit organisations. The Federation Press, Sydney

Grossman, Michele (Ed.) (2003) Blacklines: Contemporary Critical Writing by Indigenous Australians Melbourne University Press, Melbourne

Hesselbein, F. & Goldsmith, M. (2006) The Leader of the Future 2: Visions, Strategies, and Practices for the New Era. Jossey-Bass

Hudson, M. (2005) Managing at the Leading Edge: New Challenges in Managing Nonprofit Organisations, Jossey-Bass

Leban, B. (2005) Managing Organizational Change, Wiley

McIntyre-Mills, Janet (2004) Critical Systemic Praxis for Social and Environmental Justice (Contemporary Systems Thinking) Springer

Rowse, Tim (2003) Indigenous Futures: Choice and Development for Aboriginal and Islander Australia, University of New South Wales Press, Sydney

Taylor, R. (2004) Towards More Effective Governance for Australian Indigenous Organisations – Values Contracts for Boards. Journal of Indigenous Policy – Issue 4. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies