| Author: | Wu, Juan |
| Title: | From survival to development : strategic resource mobilization of social work organization CEOs in mainland China |
| Advisors: | Chen, Juan (APSS) |
| Degree: | DSW |
| Year: | 2019 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations Social service -- China Social work administration Chief executive officers |
| Department: | Department of Applied Social Sciences |
| Pages: | iii, 153 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | In response to the central government's policies promoting the development of social work, a large number of social work organizations (SWOs) have sprung up in Mainland China in the past decade to meet the society's growing demand for services. However, due to limited government funding such SWOs seriously lack manpower and financial resources. During the development stages, the founders of SWOs often assume the role of CEOs. Against such background, this study investigates the difficulties CEOs encounter and the strategies they employ in mobilizing human resources, raising funds, and cultivating relationships with the government. Particularly, it examines how CEOs' professional backgrounds (university, government, and business), SWOs' developmental phases (creativity, expansion, and mature), and local policy contexts (Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou) influence CEOs' strategies in resource mobilization. Qualitative approach is adopted for this study. A total of 21 CEOs of SWOs with university, government, and business backgrounds from three cities, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, were recruited for in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that CEOs with different professional backgrounds adopt different strategies in mobilizing resources based on their own advantages and disadvantages. CEOs with prior government work experience often rely on connections with officials to secure projects and funding; CEOs from business backgrounds have wider channels for obtaining financial support; whereas CEOs affiliated with universities are better equipped with professional expertise and have opportunities to participate in developing professional rules and policies. CEOs also employ different strategies for resource mobilization at different stages of organizational development. In the creativity phase, CEOs attach great importance to cost control and apply for any available projects to survive. In the expansion phase, CEOs apply for projects consistent with their organization's mission and control the scale of the organization. During the mature phase, CEOs begin to build their organizational brand projects and consider risk control by exploring more funding channels. Although the three cities differ in policy context—Beijing is more conservative because of its capital position, Shanghai has a longer history in developing social work, whereas Guangzhou is more open and bolder in its social work policy and practice, CEOs in the three cities have much in common when mobilizing resource in the local policy context. In particular, they all try to maintain good relations with their local governments. They try every possible means to retain talent by providing supervisory, training, and overseas study opportunities for staff against a backdrop of high turnover rates. And they are all aware of the single source funding problem and try to identify alternatives to expand the funding pool and avoid total reliance on the government. This thesis provides timely and in-depth insight concerning SWOs' survival and development in Mainland China. The findings are valuable for SWO executives to reflect on their organizational capacities and better equip them to lead and manage their organizations. The research is also useful for government officials responsible for creating a suitable political and supervisory environment for the sustainable development of SWOs and the social work profession in Mainland China. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 991022346055903411.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 938.07 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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