November 28, 2006 Not-for-Profit News
Brief Reflection on Nonprofit vs. Business Decision Making
What Do You Think?
by Bryan Orander
Over the past few weeks I have been in several similar conversations with nonprofit professionals or business people who are involved with nonprofits. We have wandered into sharing observations about decision making and implementation of important decisions and come to very similar conclusions. I would like to extend that conversation to our readers and get your input on it.
To briefly share or remind you of my background, after 12 years in various roles with a Fortune 50 computer company, I joined a local nonprofit as a Director for 6 years, then a large local consulting firm for 3 years, before founding Charitable Advisors almost 7 years ago. So I have been in the nonprofit sector for the past 15-16 years, but feel that I still can put on a business lens when desired - though my MBA is 20 years old :-).
Here is the statement I have developed that I want to get your feedback on:
"Nonprofits spend 90% of their available energy, motivation, and resources making key decisions and assembling a plan - leaving little energy to implement it. Businesses spend 10% of their energy, motivation, and resources making key decisions and assembling a plan - leaving 90% to implement. "
What rings true in your experience?
How might this be way off base?
How is it different in small versus large nonprofits or organizations that rely on different sources of income or in different fields?
If there is some truth in it, how might we focus more resources on implementation?
Share your thoughts...
Brief Reflection on Nonprofit vs. Business Decision Making
What Do You Think?
by Bryan Orander
Over the past few weeks I have been in several similar conversations with nonprofit professionals or business people who are involved with nonprofits. We have wandered into sharing observations about decision making and implementation of important decisions and come to very similar conclusions. I would like to extend that conversation to our readers and get your input on it.
To briefly share or remind you of my background, after 12 years in various roles with a Fortune 50 computer company, I joined a local nonprofit as a Director for 6 years, then a large local consulting firm for 3 years, before founding Charitable Advisors almost 7 years ago. So I have been in the nonprofit sector for the past 15-16 years, but feel that I still can put on a business lens when desired - though my MBA is 20 years old :-).
Here is the statement I have developed that I want to get your feedback on:
"Nonprofits spend 90% of their available energy, motivation, and resources making key decisions and assembling a plan - leaving little energy to implement it. Businesses spend 10% of their energy, motivation, and resources making key decisions and assembling a plan - leaving 90% to implement. "
What rings true in your experience?
How might this be way off base?
How is it different in small versus large nonprofits or organizations that rely on different sources of income or in different fields?
If there is some truth in it, how might we focus more resources on implementation?
Share your thoughts...
posted by Board Blogger at 11:24 AM
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