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The APHA organizational assessment was partially informed with an online life stages survey that queried board members and senior staff on their impressions of APHA performance. This PowerPoint reports on the survey results, APHA life stage and implications for capacity building.
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A Nonprofit Life Stages AssessmentWhere You Are, Where You’re Going, and What to
Expect When You Get There Prepared for
Gordon F. GoodwinDevelopment Solutions Group
Guided by Judith Sharken Simon’s methodology
What We’ll CoverWhat We’ll Cover Why It’s Helpful to Know about
Life Cycles
Background to Understanding Organization Life Cycles
Nonprofit Organization Stages of Life
Life Stages Self-Assessment
Issues and challenges in each life stage
Small group work on Stage 1-5 scenarios
How will I use this in my work?
Why Learn About Organizational Life Cycles?
Why Learn About Organizational Life Cycles?
Validates experiences and dispels disease mentality
Helps staff and board put the transition issues an organization is facing in context
Organizations and leaders that manage transitions well are more successful
Reinvention requires knowledge of organizational assets and capacity building challenges to identify and chart a path to sustainability. Understanding organizational life stage helps illuminate the capacity building path, and choices for pursuing it.
Transition = Reinvention
Premises of Nonprofit Life Stages Model
Premises of Nonprofit Life Stages Model
Organizations are generally forward moving at a predictable pace.
Organizations are multidimensional.
Five factors comprise life cycle: age, size, growth rate of its field, social environment, and its primary leader’s characteristics.
Significant events occur at each stage which are necessary to move forward.
There is not a predictable end-point in organizational life.
There are distinct stages, but boundaries between stages are blurry.
Each stage can be defined by dominant characteristics.
Each stage is uniquely valuable.
Some Organizations Do Not Fit the Model
Some Organizations Do Not Fit the Model
Very large, complex organizations
Very small, grassroots organizations
Organizations with unique circumstances
APHA Life Stage SurveyAPHA Life Stage Survey
25 invited to participate (24 board members / 1 staff)
18 respondents Customized and abbreviated instrument (51
questions vs. 105) Proprietary nature of methodology does not
permit adapting the survey to reflect unique characteristics of APHA organizational identity (e.g. - governance structure)
APHA Life Stage SurveyAPHA Life Stage Survey
Survey scores and reviewer comments are contained in the excel survey report document that delivered with this presentation.
A facilitated discussion of survey results is scheduled to occur in conjunction with the January, 2010 APHA board meeting.
The 5 Life Stages Guide will be provided for you at that meeting.
APHA AssessmentAPHA Assessment
APHA’s organization assessment is informed by: interviews with senior staff, department
managers and select board members review of consultant-requested documentation to
substantiate existence of necessary governance and management protocols / infrastructure
Subjective perceptions of APHA performance from board survey responses
Subjective performance rankings assigned by the consultant reviewer using 47 criteria
How does Life Stage support the Assessment?
How does Life Stage support the Assessment?
Serves as a shared point of context for the reviewer and the organization being reviewed
Highlights where board and staff perceptions support reviewer assessment, and serves to foster constructive dialogue in cases where board and staff perceptions are different from the reviewer’s.
Inclusiveness of your perceptions adds needed ownership and credibility to “outsider-led” process - and increases likelihood of follow-through on recommendations / options to consider.
What is APHA’s life stage?What is APHA’s life stage?
Based on the scoring of survey responses, APHA scores as a Stage 4: Produce and Sustain.
Though most aspects reflect Stage 4, Administrative Systems straddles Stage 4 and Stage 3: Ground and Grow
Financing scored a Stage 5: Review and Renew
The Life Stages ModelThe Life Stages Model
Stage 1Imagine and Inspire
Stage 2Found and Frame
Stage 3Ground and Grow
Stage 4Produce and Sustain
Stage 5Review and Renew
Decline and Dissolve
Life Stage Assessment Arenas of Organization PerformanceLife Stage Assessment Arenas of Organization Performance
Governance Staff Leadership Financing Administrative Systems Staffing Products and services Marketing (not addressed in APHA survey)
1: Imagine and Inspire1: Imagine and Inspire
Stage 1:• No external support• Creativity and energy• Can this dream be realized?
• 0–5 years in duration
Tips for Navigating:*Think into staffing scenarios
*Secure expertise*Articulate the ideas
2: Found and Frame 2: Found and Frame
Stage 2:• Fear of formalizing• Excitement• Charisma• How are we going to pull this off?
• 1–2 years in duration
Tips for Navigating:Expand the board*Expand the funding base*Develop organizational systems and structure
Stage 1:• Can this dream
be realized?• 0–5 years
3: Ground and Grow3: Ground and Grow
Stage 3:• Need accountability• First outsider• Sense of accomplishment• How can we build this to be viable?
• 2–5 years in duration
Tips for Navigating:*Board training and recruitment
*Clarify Exec. Director role*Develop multiyear budget & fundraising plan
*Expand staffing
Stage 2:• How are we going to
pull this off?• 1–2 yearsStage 1:• Can this dream
be realized?• 0–5 years
4: Produce and Sustain4: Produce and Sustain
Stage 4:• Board-staff roles• Old vs. new• Stable resources• How can we sustain the momentum
• 7–30 years duration
Tips for Navigating:
*Undertake self-assessment processes
*Training in understanding & managing diversity
*Strategic/long range planning* Innovation strategies
Stage 3:• How can we build this to be viable?• 2–5 yearsStage 2:• How are we going to pull this off?• 1–2 years
5: Review and Renew5: Review and Renew
Stage 5 characteristics:• Isolation• Turnover• New energy• Linkages• What do we need to redesign?• 2–5 years duration
Tips for Navigating:
*Change management*Succession planning*Rethink staffing structures*Seek collaborative relationships
*Consider Exec. Director coaching
Stage 4:• How can we sustain the
momentum• 7–30 years
Decline and DissolutionDecline and Dissolution
• Ineffective• Infighting• Crisis• Graceful demise• Should we close?• Seek assistance
Advancing Through Stage 4 Advancing Through Stage 4
Obstacles Perception of staff
control (too little or much) can lead to difficult staff:board communication
Stability may lead to complacency and stagnation : less risk-taking, creativity
Board tension: policy or “working” board? (see Q6 - Governance)
Opportunities Organization is widely
known and respected Resources are available
to take risks / innovate New staff and board
bring new energy, ideas and possibilities
Stage 4 Advancement TipsStage 4 Advancement Tips
Governance Formalize ED
performance review Develop or revise
board committee structure
Initiate annual or biennial board self-assessment
Staff Leadership Implement
professional development plan after performance review
Clarify ED primary roles, responsibilities and accountabilities - especially for staff management
Staffing Increase # of
managers Actively address
issues arising from increased staff diversity
Obtain legal counsel if staff dismissal is imminent
Admin Systems* Ensure admin
staffing levels are adequate
Incorporate automated data management systems including financial and client data
Upgrade hardware and software
Stage 4 Advancement TipsStage 4 Advancement Tips
**Includes Stage 3 suggestion
Products & Services Develop long range plans
for products and services Try out new program
approaches / models Develop internal system for
assessing and responding to new opportunities
Stage 4 Advancement TipsStage 4 Advancement Tips
Stage 5 Advancement TipStage 5 Advancement Tip
Financing Expand funding sources Add staff to development
function Analyze current funding
strategies
Next StepNext Step
Review the accompanying Excel worksheets to see a report of results and reviewer comments / questions for future discussion.