Why the Status Quo Has Got to Go
Many people have experienced some
sort of change in their lives. Whether it is moving to a new city, changing
jobs, or even changing wardrobes one thing is for certain; change is hard.
But why does change seem like an
insurmountable hurdle? And what can agencies do to overcome this challenge?
As a manager of a nonprofit, it is
important to understand and identify basic barriers to change. Below are five
reasons why new ideas are difficult to implement and some easy ideas to
circumvent these issues.
The Problem:
In almost every agency there is a complex web of challenges that need to be
addressed. Facing multiple, complex issues is a very overwhelming task. It is
even more daunting to decide which problem to tackle first and how to create
practical solutions. Many nonprofits, therefore, are bogged down from the get
go and never create a plan to move the organization forward (Hamel, G. & Prahalad, 1989)
The Solution:
Hiring qualified leaders who have experience creating strategic plans is one
way to solve this problem. Outlining internal and external strengths, weaknesses,
threats, and opportunities allows agencies to prioritize problems. Writing down
a physical plan makes problems seem more manageable so that real solutions can
be created and steps can be put in place to implement these changes. It also
creates measures by which the company can assess its progress towards these new
goals (Hamel, G. &
Prahalad, 1989).
2. Competing Interests
The Problem: There are always multiple
ways to approach a problem and many perspectives to consider when thinking
about change. Nonprofits have to consider competing board, employee, volunteer,
funder, and client perspectives before creating a plan for change (Herman, 2010).
This can be time consuming, especially if an agency does not have established
relationships or open communication with these groups of people.
The Solution: Managers should be
transparent about problems the company is facing. The use of focus groups and
surveys can help managers understand stakeholder perspectives before making
changes within the agency (Tichy & Charan, 1989). Allowing stakeholders a
voice in the change process also encourages buy in from these groups of people.
In this way, they will be empowered to embrace change and move the company
forward.
3. Mission Creep
The Problem: Some nonprofits fall into
the trap of trying to solve too many social problems. Organizations may expand
into areas in which they do not have appropriate skills or resources (Herman,
2010). This creates a lack of fit between the agency’s mission and values, and
the work that they are engaging in.
The
Solution: Firstly, agencies need to clarify
their mission and vision (Herman, 2010). This will help guide conversation
about how proposed changes reflect the mission of the organization.
Organizations can also consider collaborating with other agencies that are
doing similar work. In this way, an organization may be able to pool more
resources to affect broader social needs (Herman, 2010).
4. Funding
The Problem: Oftentimes, there is a lack
of resources to implement proposed changes. Even if an organization creates the
perfect plan for change, it cannot be implemented without adequate funding (Herman,
2010).
The
Solution: Managers need to balance the needs of
the community with the potential resource market that is available (Herman,
2010). Nonprofits can accomplish this through an internal scan of the current
financial situation and an external scan of economic, social, or political
dimensions that may impact funding (Tregoe, 1983).
5. Innovation and Technology
The Problem: Nonprofits are constantly responding
to a changing environment instead of anticipating or creating the change (Cameron,
1991). In this way, organizations are playing “catch up” to other agencies that
reward innovation and invest in technology (Hamel & Prahalad, 1989).
The
Solution: Managers need to create a reward
system that encourages innovation and the development of novel ideas (Tichy
& Charan, 1989). Investing in trainings and hiring diverse employees will
also help promote new ideas in the agency. Finally, a work group could be
created to forecast trends so that the agency is anticipating change instead of
merely responding to it.
References
Cameron, K. (1991). Developing Management
Skills. Harper-Collins: New York,
Chpt 10.
Hamel, G. & Prahalad, C. (1989).
Strategic Intent. Harvard Business Review,
pg 63-76.
Herman, R. (2010). The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit
Leadership and Management (3rd ed). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Tichy, M. & Charan, R. (1989). Speed,
Simplicity, and Self-Confidence. Harvard
Business Review, pg. 112-120.
Tregoe, B. & Zimmerman, J. (1983).
Top Management Strategy. Simon &
Schuster: New York.
