21134 Introduction to Community Management

Subject level: Undergraduate

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:

1. outline the basic principles of community management, and critically analyse the practice of community management
2. locate their own organisation in terms of features of a range of community organisations
3. design effective organisational structures and processes in community organisations
4. 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 three 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

Assessment item 1: Assignment 1 (Individual)

Assessment item 2: Assignment 2 (Group)

Indicative references

Roberts, J. (1996) The Craft of Managing, Ability Press, Victoria

Jackson, AC and Donovan, F (1999) Managing to Survive, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.