Personal Resource Systems Management (PRSM): A proposal for interactive practice

Abstract

Personal resource systems define the quality of daily living, shaping personal well-being, societal satisfaction and overall quality of life. This study explores the construct of such systems through the emerging concept of Personal Resource Systems Management (PRSM) and models that concept for future research, consideration and debate. It is a qualitative exercise in grounded theory, a demonstration of integrative, interdisciplinary scholarship and a contribution to interactive practice in resource management, a subject matter specialty of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). As such the proposed PRSM model advances the stated goal of FCS practice to "promote optimal well-being of families, individuals and communities." Specifically, a PRSM model within the context of FCS should

• describe person-environment interaction • as well as aggregates thereof (family and community) and • identify diverse daily impacts on the quality of living, personal well-being, societal satisfaction and overall quality of life • by modeling a consistent system of multiple options, each with a clear solution

Twenty-three existing models appearing in resource management texts between 1975 and 1996 were evaluated for the ability to adequately support these assumptions, using the Liebert and Spiegler framework for evaluation of theory. Though most models provided partial support, no existing models fully fit the adopted criteria. Traditional resource management concepts were therefore adapted and extended using interdisciplinary findings to model the Personal Resource Systems Management (PRSM) concept.