Management Of Family Resources

Lesson 07 : Management And Its Environment As A System

Family-The Managerial Unit

The family as a managerial unit interacts with other social groups and/or the environment around it performing both expressive and instrumental functions of the family. The attention of management by families is centered on the totality of family living and common goals of members and the alternative ways in which family members can be organized and resources can be utilized to achieve the family goals.

Most of the resources have alternative uses it is essential to view the standpoint of the family as a whole while allocating the resources rather than relating to one is individual member of the family. Focusing on family as the managerial unit implies than the decisions made are feasible for group. These should be democratic decision making process where all family members are involved. It is an effective means for committing family members to the family goals and it provides an invaluable opportunity for every family members to learn through participation.

Family as a managerial unit in the systems approach to the home management is justified on the basis of its reaction to the larger system that is community in which it is housed /living. The family members will get good appreciation, respect and certain status in the community only when the family lives up to the communities’ standards of proper family life.

Family resource management is only a means to an end and not an end by itself. The psychosocial aspect of the family is also very important and determine the ends chosen by the family. The management in family is concerned with all members of the family and is interwoven with the family and group relations. The family as a group should be the reference point and effective management is possible with satisfactory relationships within the group management is next to satisfactory relationship is the family members. Home management makes significant contributions to the family relationships by providing a favorable background for family living. Another way of maintaining family relationships is through sharing of the family values through the managerial activities. Hence the family would make specific decisions concerning the use of resources aimed at improving the family relationships.