Social Institutions

Social Institutions

Study Unit 9.1

By C. Settley

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…

• Communication- vertical

General characteristics of organization. Continued…

• Communication- horizontal

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

References

• Du Toit, D.A. & Van Staden S.J. (2009). Nursing Sociology. 4th Edition. Pretoria: Van Schaik