Organization development Challenges facing NGOs

THE PHASES OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Pioneering Phase The Rational Phase The Integrated Phase The Associative Phase

The Pioneering Phase

The Rational Phase

The Integrated Phase

The Associative Phase

The Pioneering Phase Characteristics Small, close to community and clients Personality of pioneer shapes structures, ways of working Charismatic leadership Highly personalized functions organized around abilities of staff Improvising – flexible – dependent Challenges: chaos, arbitrariness, dependence of staff

Characteristics

Small, close to community and clients

Personality of pioneer shapes structures, ways of working

Charismatic leadership

Highly personalized functions organized around abilities of staff

Improvising – flexible – dependent

Challenges: chaos, arbitrariness, dependence of staff

The Pioneering Phase (contd…) CRISIS Sense of intimacy is lost, conflict develops between old and new generations Grows complexity no longer informal way of managing Chaos and disorganization increase Loss of confidence in pioneer’s ability New staff, want some decision making power Pioneer and original staff resist change Motivation decreases and conflicts increase

CRISIS

Sense of intimacy is lost, conflict develops between old and new generations

Grows complexity no longer informal way of managing

Chaos and disorganization increase

Loss of confidence in pioneer’s ability

New staff, want some decision making power

Pioneer and original staff resist change

Motivation decreases and conflicts increase

The Rational Phase Characteristics Structures and roles become formalized Guided by policies Differentiated management, business-like, rational, division of labour Staff fit into organizational requirements Controlling – systematic – independent Challenges: over-organization, fragmentation, bureaucracy

Characteristics

Structures and roles become formalized

Guided by policies

Differentiated management, business-like, rational, division of labour

Staff fit into organizational requirements

Controlling – systematic – independent

Challenges: over-organization, fragmentation, bureaucracy

The Rational Phase (contd…) Crisis The collective sense of purpose fragments Mechanistic structures, systems, policies and procedures begin to frustrate staff People start feeling stuck and isolated in the process, cogs in a creaking machine Staff start to challenge or break the rules. Management cracks down Often hidden resistance, loss of vitality and productivity Corridor gossip and “cold crisis” can set in Or a “hot crisis” of more open challenge and resistance

Crisis

The collective sense of purpose fragments

Mechanistic structures, systems, policies and procedures begin to frustrate staff

People start feeling stuck and isolated in the process, cogs in a creaking machine

Staff start to challenge or break the rules. Management cracks down

Often hidden resistance, loss of vitality and productivity

Corridor gossip and “cold crisis” can set in

Or a “hot crisis” of more open challenge and resistance

The Integrated Phase Characteristics Renewed vision, values, culture developed cooperatively More self organization, self control Situational and developmental structure with flatter structure Integrated functions, teams, autonomous groups (human element) Best of pioneering and rational phase qualities Fluid – networking - interdependence

Characteristics

Renewed vision, values, culture developed cooperatively

More self organization, self control

Situational and developmental structure with flatter structure

Integrated functions, teams, autonomous groups (human element)

Best of pioneering and rational phase qualities

Fluid – networking - interdependence

The Associative Phase Characteristics Interdependent relationships with other organizations and the environment (shared destiny) Moving beyond constraints of competition to possibilities of collaboration Acceptance o a wider responsibility Internally similar to the Integrated Phase Challenges: power blocks through strategic alliances

Characteristics

Interdependent relationships with other organizations and the environment (shared destiny)

Moving beyond constraints of competition to possibilities of collaboration

Acceptance o a wider responsibility

Internally similar to the Integrated Phase

Challenges: power blocks through strategic alliances

The Associative Phase (contd…) Crisis Isolation and competitiveness with others Missing opportunities for integrating and cooperating with other organizations

Crisis

Isolation and competitiveness with others

Missing opportunities for integrating and cooperating with other organizations