ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on social theory in relation to social work practice within care management. It examines on social theory for social work is revisited. Social workers always work in a changing landscape of care, in whatever national context they find themselves. Social workers find themselves in an era of material post modernity or late capitalism with an increased emphasis on the value of tangible goods. Care management is part of this move toward the value of tangible products with a de-emphasis on intangibles, that is, social relationships and the meaning of what is produced and consumed. Social workers work with people from different cultures; they also operate in a social climate wherein the power and knowledge of experts are sometimes distrusted. McDonaldization can bring unintended irrational consequences' to rational bureaucracies. George Ritzer introduced the term 'McDonaldization' to describe the application of Fordist techniques to service industries to promote efficiency.
