Explain what it means to be an ethical leader and describe the challenges of being an ethical leader.

Discussion 1:Program Evaluation: Benefits and Concerns of StakeholdersDudley (2009) points out that social work practice is usually embedded in programs. While you looked at practice evaluation using

Discussion 1:Program Evaluation: Benefits and Concerns of Stakeholders
Dudley (2009) points out that social work practice is usually embedded in programs. While you looked at practice evaluation using single-subject design in Week 3, this week, you shift focus to program evaluation. Program evaluation serves many purposes, including accountability to funders and to the public. Often, funding sources such as government agencies or private foundations requires periodic program evaluations. These evaluations can help provide answers to many different questions, and can contribute to improvement of services. There are a variety of program evaluation models that are appropriate for addressing different questions as well as facilitating the collection and analysis of many different types of data.
To prepare for this Discussion, identify a program within an agency with which you are familiar, which could benefit from process evaluation and outcome evaluation. You do not need to identify the agency in your post. Also, review the different evaluation models highlighted in this week’s resources (needs assessment, program monitoring, client satisfaction study, outcome evaluation, or cost benefit study).
· Post a brief summary of the program that you selected. Recommend a program evaluation model that would answer a question relevant to the program.
· Explain the potential benefits of the program evaluation that you proposed (both process and outcome).
· Identify 2–3 concerns that stakeholders might have about your proposed evaluation and how you would address those concerns.
· Then explain 2–3 concerns that stakeholders may have about your proposed program evaluation and how you would address those concerns.
References (use 2 or more)
Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do.(2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.

  • Chapter 1, “Evaluation and Social Work: Making the Connection” (pp. 1–26)
  • Chapter 4, “Common Types of Evaluations” (pp. 71-89)
  • Chapter 5, “Focusing an Evaluation” (pp. 90-105)

Document:Logan, T. K., & Royse, D. (2010). Program evaluation studies. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods(2nd ed., pp. 221–240). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (PDF)
W. K. Kellogg Foundation. (n. d.). W. K. Kellogg foundation evaluation handbook.Retrieved October 8, 2013, from http://www.wkkf.org/knowledge-center/resources/2010/w-k-kellogg-foundation-evaluation-handbook.aspx

  • Chapter 3, “Three Levels of Evaluation” (pp. 14–18)
  • Chapter 5, “Planning and Implementing Project-Level Evaluation” (pp. 47–104)

Discussion 2: Ethics and the Law
When working with clients, it is important to maintain professional boundaries to safeguard both you and your clients. Legislation such as HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics are specific in how you as a social worker should protect client information and safeguard confidentiality. Responding ethically in a professional situation may be clear in most situations, but not necessarily in allsituations. Even though you have established laws and code of ethics to guide your decision-making process, you may still face ethical conflicts.
For this Discussion, review the media of the Bradley case and consider how the case relates to social work professional ethics.
·  Post the strategy you would use to address the Teen First director’s request if you were the social worker in the Bradley case.
·  Then, describe a hypothetical situation in which an organization’s decision conflicts with your personal/professional ethics but remains within the law. Explain how you would respond to this situation, and why.
References (use 3 or more)
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice(4th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

  • Chapter 12, “Addressing Ethics in Leadership” (pp. 273-300)

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Chapter 16, “Leadership Ethics” (pp. 423–449)
Stephenson, M. O., Jr. (2011). Considering the relationships among social conflict, social imaginaries, resilience, and community-based organization leadership. Ecology and Society, 16(1). Retrieved from http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol16/iss1/art34/
National Association of Social Workers. (2014). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp
Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). Sessions: Bradley(Episode 5 of 42) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Discussion 3: Reflections on Ethical Leadership
What does it mean to be an ethical leader? How is ethical leadership demonstrated in social work practice? As a leader in the social work profession, you have to achieve a balance between your professional and personal ethics. At times, these may be aligned with each other, but there may be situations in which they conflict. Because leadership includes value and moral dimensions, your character, actions, and goals as a social work administrator should reflect ethical leadership.
For this Discussion, consider the characteristics of ethical leadership and the challenges associated with practicing ethical leadership.
·  Post your definition of ethical leadership as it relates to the social work profession.
·  Explain what it means to be an ethical leader and describe the challenges of being an ethical leader.
References (2 or more)
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice(4th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

  • Chapter 12, “Addressing Ethics in Leadership” (pp. 273-300)

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Chapter 16, “Leadership Ethics” (pp. 423–449)
National Association of Social Workers. (2014). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp

How important are employee attitudes and emotions as well as transparency in shaping organizational behavior?

Given that an organization is reliant on employees to achieve its mission and objectives, there would appear to be value in organizational transparency. If employees perceive that leaders and managers

Given that an organization is reliant on employees to achieve its mission and objectives, there would appear to be value in organizational transparency. If employees perceive that leaders and managers are being transparent, their attitude toward work and overall efficiency will be better, even if they do not agree with the leaders and managers’ decisions. However, if employees perceive or discover that organizational leaders and managers have not been transparent, their efforts may reflect a less caring attitude. In such cases, there may not be any difference between employee perception and fact.
Consider the aforementioned aspects, and using the module readings and online library resources, research the importance of employee attitudes and perception.
Then, respond to the following:

  • How important are employee attitudes and emotions as well as transparency in shaping organizational behavior?
  • Elaborate on how employee perceptions shape organizational behavior. Are perceptions and reality always the same?

Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail, include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA Style, and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Reading:
Hosie, P. J., & Smith, R. C. (2009). A future for organisational behaviour? European Business Review, 21(3), 215–232. (ProQuest Document ID: 225424455)

How does systems thinking apply to an organization’s culture, goals, and structures?

Organizations are rarely composed of just a single person or a single organization that functions without interacting with other people or organizations. There are many components or parts in an organ

Organizations are rarely composed of just a single person or a single organization that functions without interacting with other people or organizations. There are many components or parts in an organization’s make-up, each contributing to the overall functioning of the organization and its behavior. If all the parts are working well, the organization operates efficiently. However, if one part stops functioning, this affects all the other parts and the overall organization. Though other parts may be able to compensate for the nonfunctioning part so that the organization continues to function, efficiency is lowered. Organizations have both internal and external parts—such as stakeholders. The challenges of nonfunctioning stakeholders can be internal, external, or both.
Consider the aforementioned aspects, and using the module readings and the  online library resources, research the application of systems theory to organizations and their stakeholders.
Then, respond to the following:

  • How does systems thinking apply to an organization’s culture, goals, and structures?
  • How are the stakeholders of an organization interconnected and interrelated?

Integrate various types of systems, such as open and closed systems, that might be present in organizations in your answer. Give reasons and examples, supported with appropriate academic literature, when developing your responses. Be sure to cite to APA writing standards for paraphrases and direct quotes.
Write your initial response in 300–500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail, include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA Style, and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Behaviorism 

 Behaviorism     Prior to engaging in this discussion, read the Introduction and Chapter One in your required e-book, watch the B.F. Skinner – Operant Conditioning and Free Will (Links to an ext

 Behaviorism
Prior to engaging in this discussion, read the Introduction and Chapter One in your required e-book, watch the B.F. Skinner – Operant Conditioning and Free Will (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. video, and review the Instructor Guidance.

  • Summarize the following constructs that the behaviorist movement promotes:
    • Associative learning
    • Connectionism, including the laws of learning
    • Conditioning
      • Classical
      • Operant
    • Reflect on your own experiences in the workplace or in  organizational settings (school, church, volunteer sites). What is an  example of applied behaviorism that you have experienced in one of these  settings?
    • Based on your e-book commentary, why do you think the reader is encouraged to think skeptically about the content included?
    • Are there potential concerns with associating learning behaviors with theory based only on anti-mentalism?
    • What truths can be disseminated from the historic evolution of the behaviorist framework
    • Summarize the following constructs that the behaviorist movement promotes:
      • Associative learning
      • Connectionism, including the laws of learning
      • Conditioning
        • Classical
        • Operant
      • Reflect on your own experiences in the workplace or in  organizational settings (school, church, volunteer sites). What is an  example of applied behaviorism that you have experienced in one of these  settings?
      • Based on your e-book commentary, why do you think the reader is encouraged to think skeptically about the content included?
      • Are there potential concerns with associating learning behaviors with theory based only on anti-mentalism?
      • What truths can be disseminated from the historic evolution of the behaviorist framework?