Bureaucracy and Professionalism in the Social Services

A Multi-Dimensional Approach to the Analysis of Conflict and Congruity

Bibliographic Data

ID11215192
AuthorsW A Anderson (0000-0003-3580-8635, Minnesota State University, Mankato, corresponding author), Patricia Yancey Martin (Florida State University)
Year1982
Volume5
Issue3-4
Pages33-50
Publication date1982-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Service Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0148-8376 • E-ISSN: 1540-7314
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1300/j079v05n03_03
OpenAlexW1919712080
LanguageEN
Citations received2

A multidimensional approach to the study of bureaucracy and professionalism among 200 social service workers provides general support for two hypotheses. The conflict hypothesis is that, as perceived by the workers, the bureaucratic dimensions of hierarchy of authority, formalized rules, procedural specificity, and impersonality are inversely associated with workers' professionalism. The congruence hypothesis is that an extensive division of labor and a high degree of technical competence are positively associated with workers' professionalism. Results underscore the complexity of the relationship between bureaucracy and professionalism and suggests that only particular dimensions of bureaucracv are inhibitive of effective job performance by social work professionals. Conclusions point to directions for future research

Bureaucracy · Competence (human resources · Congruence (geometry · Division of labour · Hierarchy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Labor Movements and Unions · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub