Management and Information Systems in Human Services: Implications for the Distribution of Authority & Decision Making

Management and Information Systems In Human Services: Implications for the Distribution of Authority and Decision Making By Richard K. Caputo Ph.D. Caputo's book, published in 1988 is an excellent resource for high level administrators. Although, it is an academic pursuit, Caputo, does a fine job of describing implications for decision making, authority and legitimacy in human service organizations. The application of information systems in organizations are not neutral; they affect the authority structure, decision load and power of the organization. In other words: How are decisions made and information used in your agency? Caputo probes the nature of humans service organizations and discusses how they are different than profit & nonprofit. The differences have a direct bearing on the functions of management and the uses of information within them. Caputo includes footnoted material and an excellen reference list for the dedicated leader in the information age. Haworth Press 1988Library of Congress # HV29.2.C37ISBN: 0-86656-822-0

FIVE STAR ALL THE WAYThis is the best book I came across in three years of graduate school. This is a very comprehensive book with a foward vision for human service organizations that require the best in structure, efficiency, decision making and service delivery.The implementation of MIS and their integration in an organization will directly affect the power base, authority structure and reporting relationships. This is critical to executives in service organizations and government who make decisions that will lead all of us into the future. Caputo examines authority, decision load, and MIS that will enable the reader to think differently about efficiency. He also considers socio-culture and philosophical issues that reveal the global transformation of the way we think about problems and how we resolve them.