This chapter sets out a framework for studying community practice based on the ‘5Ps’: purposes, policies, programmes, processes and practices. It then explores the nature of the roles of managing and organising, focusing particularly on those aspects that are distinctive for community practice. It draws on relevant concepts and theory in order to present a working systems model that comprises the following subsystems: organisational culture, organisational systems, management roles and standard operating procedures.

This chapter sets out a framework for studying community practice based on the ‘5Ps’: purposes, policies, programmes, processes and practices. It then explores the nature of the roles of managing and organising, focusing particularly on those aspects that are distinctive for community practice. It draws on relevant concepts and theory in order to present a working systems model that comprises the following subsystems: organisational culture, organisational systems, management roles and standard operating procedures.