HomeEc: Family Resource Management

Family resource management definition

a system that assists a family in planning and achieving goals by making skilful use of available resources

Purposes of family resource management

• improves quality of life by reducing stress

• Assists in achieving goals

• minimises wasted resources

• Allows for unexpected changes

Types of resource management systems

open and closed systems

Closed system description

all activities occur withing sytem boundires

Open system definition

use systems outside boundaries to achieve goals

Areas of family life to be managed

• household finance

• cleaning

• meal planning

• activities schedule

Skills used in household finance management

• money management

• IT

• organisational skills

Skills used in cleaning management

• organisational

• planning and time management

Skills used in meal planning management

• organisational

• planning and budgeting

Skills used in activity management

• planning

• time management

End results of household finance planning

• needs met

• debt avoided

• savings made

End results of cleaning planning

• cleaner home

• health problems risk reduced (asthma)

End results of meal planning

• meals planned

• ingredients available

• less food waste

• less convenience meals

End results of activities planning

• dropped and collected ontime

Components of management

• inputs

• throughputs

• outputs

Inputs definition

anything brought into the management system, demands and resources

Types of demand

• needs

• wants

• goals (short, medium and long term)

• values

Needs definition

• basic requirements for survival

• Physical and emotional

Wants definition

desires but can do without

Goals definition

specific things someone works towards achieving

Values definition

unique beliefs about what is important or worthwhile

Types of resources

• time

• human skills

• environmental

• material

Throughputs definition

process of planning, organising and implementing

Planning process

• identify goal

• indentify resources

• collect info

• consider alternatives

• consider consequences

• make a descision

• design plan

Steps in organising

• appoint individuals to tasks (delegate)

• allocate resources

Steps in implementing

• plan into action

• take control of the plan

• ensure flexibility

Output definition

end result of inputs and throughputs

How are outputs evaluated

• goals

• needs and wants

• resources

• change in values

• satisfaction

• feedback

Descision making process definition

process of deciding between two or more options when working towards achieving a goal

Steps in decision making process

• define decision

• identify resources

• collect info

• consider alternatives

• consider consequences

• make a decision

• put plan in place

• implement plan

• evaluate

Communication definition

two way process of sharing ideas, info and emotions

Reasons for communication

• understand values

• identifying goals

• making decisions together

• allocating tasks

• evaluation

• resolving conflict

Factors affecting management

• employment patterns

• dual roles

• socio-economic status

• stages in family life cycle

• values and standards

• composition of family

• culture

• gender roles

Employment patterns effect

• resources limited

• single income manage income carefully

• dual income more money but less time

• commuted and shifts affect lifeFu

Dual roles effect

• both employed = roles equal

• one parent = strain

Socio-economic status effect

• social and economic position in society

• lower = basic needs before wants

• higher = more to spend on wants

Stages in life effects

• arrival of kids = children priority instead of wants

• number of kids = more time and money required

• age of kids = younger cost more time and money

• older children input considered

• older people income and agility effects

Values and standards effects

• influence choices

• change in circumstances = change in values and system

Composition of family effects

• number of dependants vs providers

• older members = care due to illness

• children = care

• special needs = 24 hr care/ hospital visits

• providers = parent(s) and others

Culture effects

• diet and role of women (jewish = kosher diet)

• husbands prevent wives from working (18 countries…)

• religious ceremonies eg. communion

• women in ireland have careers now

Gender roles effects

• modern families equal

• all family members contribute equally, regardless of gender