Advantages of Sociology Sociology Program

Sociological Advantage
The professional sociologist uses advanced scientific principles and procedures to understand individuals, groups, work units, and organizations. Through careful research, objective analysis of organizational issues, and creative solutions to complex challenges, sociologists can help you to meet your organizational needs in:

Social Research and Data Analysis
Program Evaluation and Development
Social Policy Analysis
Community, Rural and Urban Research
Organizational Analysis and Planning
Social Impact Assessment
Managing Diversity
Subject Area Expertise
Understanding Markets
Increasing Morale and Productivity

What Can the Professional Sociologist Contribute to Organizations?
The professional sociologist commands an impressive array of skills, knowledge and experience that can help you solve coporate and organizational problems. Consider these:
Q: What direction should my company take?
A:The professional sociologist provides insights and sophisticated data analysis that can help you make decisions about your organization's future using:

strategic planning
trend analysis and forecasting
market analysis
demographics
populations projections
survey design and research
intensive interviewing with staff and executives

Q: How can I most effectively handle organizational change?
A:Sociologists pioneered the scientific analysis of complex organizations and have built a solid foundation of research findings, concepts, and theories that can help you set priorities during changing times. Whether you face restructuring, downsizing, or growth, professional sociologists provide services that enhance your ability to lead your organization:

organizational analysis and design
leadership and management and resolution
group dynamics and team-building
conflict management and resolution
analysis of workplace culture

Q: What do my customers really want?
A:The professional sociologist offers expert analysis of customer profiles, attitudes, and preferences leading to the satisfaction of current or future customers or clients. Services include:

market research and analysis
focus group research
demographic analysis
intensive interviewing with clients

Q: How can I increase productivity?
A:Because the professional sociologist understands how organizational systems and the inter-relationships among units can affect productivity, he or she can help you rethink how systems can be changed to improve efficient output of products, ideas, and services through:

task analysis and work reorganization
management training and staff development
employee motivation and benefits
team-building and conflict resolution
management information systems

Q: How can I manage diversity in the workplace?
A:Sociologists have conducted some of the most progressive research in the areas of cultural diversity, ethnic and race relations, gender relations, and inter-group conflict. They offer a rich understanding of these issues to help bridge differences in the contemporary workplace through:

on-site diversity workshops and seminars
conflict resolution and mediation techniques
revising organizational policies
updating organizational practices
leadership building
retreat and conference facilitation

Think Sociology When Looking For...
Experience...
Agencies and organizations look to sociologists for their unique ability to define the crucial dimensions of a problem, isolate the most critical variables that affect it, and collaborate with others to craft a viable course of action.
Sociologists work inside organizations in management positions ot from outside organizations as consultants and partners in rethinking how systems function. Sociologists hold positions in vittually every employment setting including:

Federal, state, and local governments
International agencies
Social service agencies, non-profit organizations
Corporations, think tanks, and small businesses
Consulting firms
Universities and Colleges

Insight...
Sociologists help frame problems within a larger context, building on a strong foundation of concepts and theories. They combine their broad understanding of race, gender, social class, cultural diversity, and age with insights into how organizational and social systems work. This makes them uniquely valuable as objective researchers and innovative change agents.
Skills...
Sociologists contribute to the contemporary workforce, bringing sophisticated skills and knowledge of research design to the most challenging problems. Sociologists receive broad training in basic social research, program evaluation or policy analysis. Some conduct basic research, while others apply research-based programs and strategies or plan for the future.
"Quantitative" sociologists bring expertise in survey design, statistical analysis and management of large-scale data bases. "Qualitative" sociologists have been trained in intensive interviewing, focus group research, community research, conflict anaysis, policy analysis, and social impact analysis. Both are adept at interpreting data and deriving implications of research for policy and program development.
Familiarity with the latest computer programs and management of data bases rank high among sociologists' skills, including:

Quantitative and qualitative methodologies
Data analysis
Social impact assessment
Program evaluation
Focus group research
Mediation and arbitration
and other applied skills

Sociologists use statistical analysis software to interpret complicated findings. They prepare reports to governing bodies, employees, the general public, or the media, using clear, accessible language.

Expertise...
Sociologists offer eccpertise in substantive areas--from families to deviance, from urban studies to social psychology--adding depth to research, planning and development of projects. Expertise in a specific subject may be of crucial importance to an employer.
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Skills you Need...Skills Sociologists Have

Organizational Analysis
Program Planning and Evaluation
Project Monitoring and Assessment
Information Management
Management Consulting
Sampling Design and Application
Questionnaire Construction
Interviewing Expertise
Market and Advertising Research
Statistical and Computer Expertise
Data Base Management
Report Writing/Data Presentation
Grant Writing and Reviewing
Diversity Workshops
Equal Opportunity Consulting
Affirmative Action Analysis
Human Resource Planning
Personnel Training and Development
Employer/Employee Relations
Employee Benefit Evaluations
Employee Counseling
Demographic/Population Analysis
Urban and Regional Analysis
Feasibility and Impact Assessment
Risk Management Studies
Social Policy Research