| The social service industry in the United States has experienced tremendous growth and change since the early 1970s. Because of this change, the social work profession and academia are beginning to recognize unique and distinct issues related to social work administration. However, the social work literature today still lacks an adequate amount of empirical research that examines the skills and competencies needed to administer the delivery of social services.; This research examines how social service managers with a Master of Social Work (MSW) differ from managers with business and administration degrees and other degrees in the frequency in which they engage in specific tasks. In addition, it shows how these managers differ in their self-perceived competence with regard to performing these tasks.; The findings of the research do not support the hypotheses and indicate that there is no significant difference in the relative frequency in which managers of social service agencies engage in specific management tasks based on their education. In addition, social service managers were found not to differ in their self-perceived competence in managing these tasks. Nonetheless, follow-up tests do show there is a significant difference in which social service managers engage in one management task (managing resources) based on their education.; While the hypotheses in this study were not supported, subsequent data analyses indicate that differences exist in the relative frequency in which social service managers engage in specific management tasks based on their level of management, gender and ethnicity. In addition, differences were found in the self-perceived competence that social service managers have with regard to managing specific tasks based on their level of management in an agency.; Implications for social work practice, education and policy are discussed. Results of this study can be used for future research in the theory of social work administration and curriculum development for social work administration. |
