Systems+&+Organizations

**Wiki Group 4: Systems & Organizations**
 * HEHD 800: Foundations of Youth Development**

= Organization: = >> Projects are not developed in isolation from their context and then applied uniformly in the real world. Instead staff and partners work with youth and other community who want to be included in an initiative to create a dynamic plan that is tailored to their own situation. thus the end users of the' product" are fully involved in its design and implementation
 * Wendy Wheeler states (and is paraphrased) that many structural changes to society over the past several decades has led to changes in the organizational structure of youth development structures.
 * Considers the underlying causes of problem behaviors and stresses positive outcomes for youth, including competence, confidence, character, connection and contribution
 * Even with these advances, many are not able to be reached by this new outlook. Many individuals in underdeveloped areas are not being reached by these technological advances and there are huge gaps between the classes
 * Considers full context of their lives, recognizing people grow up in different systems. This is how people are shaped and become involved in their social networks such as school, community, family and society.
 * Emphasizes everyone has a stake in youth development. Young people must be involved equally as adults within the community
 * Calls for communities to provide supports for young people and real opportunities to learn, earn and contribute” (pg 4)
 * The Industrial Revolution (1950’s) promoted a bureaucratic system where jobs and roles were strictly defined. This lasted until the 80’s.
 * In the 1980s, a new approach emerged; high-performance system where people worked on teams and had more individuality and freedom.
 * More recently, we have moved towards a virtual workplace and this transition is still occurring. To quote Wheeler, “In the virtual workplace, interdependent networks of people, teams and organizations work in tandem on work projects.”
 * New way includes management and operational structures that are flat rather than hierarchical and that are more responsive to the external environment, more flexible, and better prepared to give customers what they want.
 * We now recognize the importance of the goal versus the individual and there is a higher success rate in companies when they are more aware of this.
 * If an organization is going to succeed they must be able to handle the tasks at hand while planning and focusing on the tasks that are coming up in the future.
 * As the economy continues to struggle, it is critical to get the most for your money. Organizations are utilizing collaborative efforts to meet the needs of their clients and keep themselves in “business.”
 * The layout of youth development programs have changed from “dealing with problems and youth with problems” to utilizing youth and respecting them as positive contributors to their own fate and contributing to societies problems as a whole.
 * Looking one customer ahead is powerful in the perspective of YDL
 * Fully Utilize the Collaboration Theory

What we still need to learn about organizations themselves?
How can we maintain the human relational touch in this new emerging organization going virtual?

Is it a better system to continue to have many organizations competing for limited resources or to have them combine forces and operate under one umbrella with regional selectiveness?

= Funding: = Almost all organizations rely on a variety of sources to fund their operations. It is; also, wise to have diversity in the types of funding. Putting “all your eggs in one basket” so to speak, could prove to be deferential to the program if that source of funding fails. Having many different types will allow for increased longevity and rebounding in the even that one source is limited. = What more do we need to learn about funding? =
 * Fees (Earned Income) *Adapted from Dennis Young’s article
 * As Young points out, most economic funding comes from fees charged.
 * If a program can benefit from charged fees, then they should become a part of the overall portfolio in order to maintain stability.
 * Gifts (Individual/Cooperate)
 * Many individuals and cooperation’s give gifts to organizations. (ie. Goodwill clothing donations, donating to hospice at a family’s request following death, donation of busted food bags to local human society that could not be sold at the retail store)
 * Many times, gifts must be recruited in order to maintain productivity.
 * Gifts must coincide with the overall goals of the program. (It would be foolish to donate busted pet food bags to the clothing Goodwill however it is relative to the mission of the humane society)
 * Grants/Governmental Funding
 * (from Young) Almost 1/3 of all funding comes from government grants/contracts
 * Many tedious paperwork’s and requirements attached with government grants/funding
 * Income from Investments
 * Some organizations operate from dividends or interests generated from endowments or other investment funding
 * Investment funds are normally designated for a specific purpose, such as day to day operations
 * Volunteer/In-Kind
 * Many organizations depend on volunteer staff in order for the organization to function and run daily

How do we increase funding to promote youth development programs?

What methods have you used, successfully, to obtain needed funds? = Evaluation: =

(Adapted and paraphrased from Arnold and Carter)

History
 * Early usage of evaluation received a great deal of feedback (positive and negative) on how to best evaluate youth development programs.
 * Qualitative verses quantitative data

Why? Goals for evaluation (Began in the 1980's) It is concerning that there is a lack of experience in evaluating these programs and that there are certain limitations placed on the evaluators themselves. Evaluation Focus
 * Purpose for stakeholder support, program improvement, and decision making
 * Evidence based evaluations need to be in place to positively affect the youth, and ultimately change policy
 * Interesting point that needs to be revived- "the age of accountability dawned, and pressure to determine more definitively the value and impact of youth programs increased" We have to revert back to being more accountable for the state of our youth
 * 5 goals for successful development (*Taken from Arnold and Carter*)
 * Intellectually reflective
 * Enroute to a life of meaningful work
 * Good citizens
 * Caring and ethical
 * Healthy
 * An organizational focus that requires the involvement of youth in the process.
 * Focuses on program quality
 * Program evaluations must be able to transform with changing programs, youth, and leaders along with society as a whole.

What do we still need to know about evaluation?
According to our reading: There were 3 main indicators of success for youth development
 * the presence of adults who fostered skill, community building and hope for the youth
 * youth who were seen as resources to be developed rather than seen as a problem to be fixed
 * programs that created spaces of belonging where youth feel safe, cared for, and empowered

What defines a successful program? (To you) Can "true" success ever be evaluated? If so, how? (Methodology)

= Collaboration: =
 * According to Byrne, "collaborations require significant investment of resources from all partners. Without mutual contribution of resources, shared ownership is difficult. These resources need to be equal but should represent an important financial commitment to the joint project" (pg 8)
 * Organizations utilize collaboration to help offset costs and reach common goals.
 * Bryne and Hansberry define collaboration as “a mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals.”
 * How Collaboration Works
 * Shared priorities
 * Combined resources
 * Political will to develop institutional support
 * Sharing experiences to improve on the “trial and error” method
 * Adding value to all parties involved
 * Increasing the effectiveness of the organizations.
 * Overcoming the problems associated with collaboration
 * Relationships based in aligning missions and pursuing mutually beneficial goals among these organizations that are key.
 * Collaborative activities were a strong component in influencing effectiveness
 * Collaboration should be attempted only if there is a clear and present need that will be better met if organizations collabo- rate.

Does collaboration between organizations "really" exist or does competition outweigh the collaborative effort?

= Wrap Up =

In order to promote and foster successful youth development programs, we first need to produce leaders versed in all four of these subcategories. They must be able to understand the basic structure of an organization, how to acquire and maintain funding to ensure success and longevity, ways to evaluate the program to continue to attract funding and new youth and finally how to collaborate; inside their own organization and with others to obtain their desired goals and provide the best possible environments for today’s youth and continue to move forward in this exciting, challenging and rewarding field. This section is curtail for every student to not only understand, but to apply each and everyday in the field.