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

1. Social Institutions
Study Unit 9.1
By C. Settley

2. 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

3. Social Institutions
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• 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

4. The Five basic Social
Institutions
• 1) The family
• 2) Education
• 3) Religion
• 4) Economics
• 5) Politics

5. 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

6. Social Institutions:
Economic Institutions
• Enables a society to survive economically.
• Through the provision of services such as
banks.
• Fosters entrepreneurial potential in
communities.
• Without the economy, societies would not
be able to trade, import and export goods
etc.

7. Social Institutions:
Social group
• A number
of specific
identifiable
people
Institution
• A system of
organised,
standarised
patterns of
social
behaviour
Social Group
• Consists of
people and
a social
institution of
activities

8. Organization: The Hospital
• Individuals spend their whole lives in
organizations
• School, formal education
• Organizations are structured- roles, positions,
functions, rules and regulations eg student nurse
• 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

9. A classification of organizations
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

10. A classification of organizations
Goal 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

11. 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.

12. General characteristics of
organization. Continued…
• Communication- vertical and horizontal

13. General characteristics of
organization. Continued…
• Communication- horizontal

14. 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.

15. 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

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