The most common view of the relationship between social work and society seems to be the perspective that social work is an intermediary profession, acting between the individual and society. In this intermediary capacity, social work is somehow able to act in ways that are in the best interests of both the individual and society, seeking to empower the individual and to improve society. Critics of social work reject the view of social workers as neutral and objective, and see them rather as agents of social control, largely acting in ways that perpetuate existing inequalities. Social workers are, or can be, agents and catalysts of social change, as intermediaries objectively balancing the pressures of social control and social change.

We are at the beginning of the sustainability era. The biggest challenge of our generation is to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. For this we must be willing to understand and change the root causes that create these challenges in the first place. The system itself needs to change. But how to do that? This ground-breaking book Changing the Game reveals the missing insights and strategies to actually achieve system change. The authors Lucas Simons and André Nijhof bring decades of real life and academic experience, and state that most of the sustainability challenges are actually caused by the same system failures, every time. Therefore, the way to accelerate and manage system change is also similar every time – if you know where to look and how to act. The theory of sustainable market transformation and system change is described in a compelling and easy to understand eight-step approach applied to eight different sectors. The authors, together with respected sector experts, describe the drivers, triggers and dominant thinking in each of these sectors as well as the strategies needed to move towards higher levels of sustainability. This book is highly accessible and engaging, and is perfect for use by professionals, leaders and students for understanding how to move markets to a more sustainable future.

Editor Biography: Adam Jab'o'ski is an associate professor in The Department of Management at the University of D'browa G�rnicza. He is also Vice-President of the Board of a reputable management consulting company "OTTIMA plus" Ltd. of Katowice, and President of the "Southern Railway Cluster" Association of Katowice, which supports development in railway transport and the transfer of innovation, as well as cooperation with European railway clusters (as a member of the European Railway Clusters Initiative). He holds a postdoctoral degree in Economic Sciences, specializing in Management Science. Having worked as a management consultant since 1997, he has broadened his experience and expertise through co-operation with a number of leading companies in Poland and abroad. He is the author of a variety of studies and business analyses on business models, value management, risk management, the balanced scorecard and corporate social responsibility. He has also written and co-written several monographs and over 100 scientific articles in the field of management, published both in Poland and abroad. Adam's academic interests focus on the issues of modern and efficient business model design, including Sustainable Business Models and the principles of company value building strategy that includes the rules of Corporate Social Responsibility. Book Description: The dynamics of market changes determine new perspectives both in the theory and practice of management science. The mechanisms of doing business aimed at achieving a high level of company performance are changing. This requires adequate instruments based on the solid pillars of strategic management. Undoubtedly, the key ontological beings which determine the success of an organization are effective and efficient business models, strategies and business processes. A kind of strategic hybrid emerges that shapes the principles of doing business subject to pressure, constraints and emerging opportunities. In this approach, companies implement strategies for growth and development not only to survive, but also to achieve a strong and competitive advantage. Value creation is another area of developing management science and practices, defining key factors underlying the conceptualization and operationalization of business models, strategies and business processes. The above mentioned concepts are nowadays widely discussed, creating a new dimension of strategic management. This monograph consists of chapters focused on both theoretical and practical conditions of modern companies, specifically focused on building effective and efficient business models and strategies. This monograph primarily refers to new research perspectives which determine the new challenges of strategic management. The aim of the monograph is to present views and approaches to strategic management determined by the development and growth of companies through building their business models and strategies. The issues addressed in this book are: -determining key trends in the theory and practice of management science -defining key ontological beings and their use in the dynamic management of modern companies -presenting the new dimensions of strategic management as seen through the eyes of the international authors of individual chapters -the possibility of applying solutions to problems addressed in this monograph The editor and authors hope that the presented combination of theory and practice will satisfy the needs of readers, in particular managers of modern companies, business consultants and researchers.

The issues of poverty, inequality, racial injustice, and climate change have never been more pressing or paralyzing. Current approaches to social change, which rely on linear thinking and traditional power dynamics to 'solve' social problems, are not helping. In fact, they may only beentrenching the status quo.Systemic social challenges produce bewildering results when we try to solve them due to their complexity, scale, and depth. While strategies to tackle complexity and scale have received significant attention and investment, challenges that arise from deeply-held beliefs, values, and assumptions thatno longer serve us well have been largely overlooked. This book draws on stories of committed social changemakers to uncover a set of principles and practices for social change that dramatically depart from the industrial approach. Rather than delivering solutions or being lured by grander visionsof 'systems change', these principles and practices focus on the process of change itself. Simple yet profound, these stories distil a timely set of lessons for leaders, scholars, and policymakers on how connection, context, and power sit at the heart of the change process, ensuring broader agencyfor people and communities while building social systems that are responsive in a rapidly-changing world.

This title was first published in 2000: An important look at the complexity of the challenges faced by the international system at the beginning of the new millennium. The shape of the New World Order is being driven largely by forces unleashed through factors such as economic globalization and technological development. The book emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary analysis in order to understand the extent and diversity of the factors which condition the dynamics of this transformation. Essential reading for students of human rights, security, finance and technology.

Welfare is a current global issue challenging the lives of many. Investigations are constantly being made to find answers in search of the most proficient social model. This book presents the usefulness of an enhanced model for welfare regime analysis and shows the localisation of social professional orientations. This includes social quality, social professions, traditions, public services, globalisation, child protection, retirement plans and other social services.