Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
5-2-2024
Year of Publication
2022
Degree Name
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Abstract
Social work leaders must utilize unique leadership styles and innovative activities to enhance human well-being and meet the basic needs of all people (NASW, 2008). Social work leaders must value and actively seek input from all people, strengthening the solutions' chance to work. Wicked social problems (WSP) plague our country, especially among marginalized groups. We must utilize a new combination of social work leadership styles to resolve WSP.
The capstone project presents significant social work leadership and social innovation findings. First, a systematic literature review synthesized how transformational, anti-oppressive, and ubuntu leadership styles impact social service organizations. The conceptual paper examined how leadership styles combine with socially innovative activities such as social entrepreneurship, shared governance, political advocacy, and community collaboration. Finally, the practice application paper explores how a social work leader implements a socially innovative activity in a nonprofit setting. The paper reviews recruiting and managing council members, intra- and inter-agency collaboration, program development, budget development, and leveraging technology. In addition, a case study found specific transformational, anti-oppressive, and ubuntu leadership traits vital to the project's success. The findings from this capstone will play a critical role in approaching social issues.
Social work leaders must utilize transformational, anti-oppressive, and ubuntu leadership styles when confronting WSP. Socially innovative activities are a critical component of effective social service delivery. Social work leaders and socially innovative activities are the critical ingredients to tackling WSP.
Recommended Citation
Mooney, Kaye, "Leadership & Innovation: The Keys to Solving Wicked Social Problems" (2022). DSW Capstone Projects. 29.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/csw_grad_reports/29
