social institutions
TRANSCRIPT
Learning Outcomes
• Define the following concepts
• Social institutions• Social organizations• Describe the classification of organization• Discuss the general characteristics of a social
organization as applied to the hospital as an organization of a healthcare institution
• Division of labour
• Authority• Communication • Formality and rigidity
Social Institutions Page 189
• Humans have basic social needs –belonging, support for the young etc.
• These different fields of needs have been classified by Sociologists hence the concept: social institutions
• Defined: Social Institutions are the major spheres of social life, organized in such a way that they fulfill human needs
The Five basic Social Institutions
• 1) The family
• 2) Education
• 3) Religion
• 4) Economics
• 5) Politics
Social Institutions: The Family
• The family is the most basic of all institutions
• It serves the person’s need to belong and to receive and give love.
• Satisfies the need for care and socialization
• Cornerstone for individuals to function in society
• More than 90% of all people prefer to live within a family unit
Social Institutions: Economic Institutions
• Enables a society to survive economically.
• Through the provision of services such as banks.
• Fosters business potential in communities.
• Without the economy, societies would not be able to trade, import and export goods etc.
Social Institutions:
Social group
• A number of specific identifiable people
Institution
• A system of organised, standarised patterns of social behaviour
Organization: The Hospital
• Individuals spend their whole lives in organizations
• School, formal education• Organizations are structured- roles, positions,
functions, rules and regulations • Formal organizations- certain activities are
performed by certain people. They get paid to do so. In accordance to rules and regulations.
• To achieve the organizational goal/philosophy/mission/vision
A classification of organizations (4 types). See page 190.
Pattern maintenance
• Responsible for the functions of cultural transfer and socialization
• Expressive function eg arts, schools
Adaptive organization
• Orientated towards economic production
• Eg small and large business organisations
A classification of organizationsGoal Attainment Organizations
• Concerned with the attainment of political goals
• Eg the government of a country
Integrative
Organizations
• Function is to maintain social control
• ITC management control in South Africa
General characteristics of organization
• Division of labor- prescribed tasks/job descriptions
• Authority– Traditional: how it is done. Obedience is reinforced
– Rational-legal: lawful. Invoking an existing law.
– Charismatic: obedience to a person rather than impersonal legal system
– Line: vertical ranking of staff members– Staff: specialized knowledge to support line
function.
General characteristics of organization. Continued…
• Formality and rigidity- activities, meetings
• Activities must take place according to certain rules.
• Bureaucratic structure of a hospital requires every rule to the letter being followed.
• Not always possible.
• Sometimes necessary to bend rules to benefit the patient.
Characteristics of Social Institutions
The comb like structure of the Hospital as organization
Nursing Department
Medical Department
Deputy Director: Nursing Services
Chief Medical Officer
Hospital Manager
Chief Executive OfficerChief Executive Officer